BBC journalist reveals Tottenham are ‘moving’ to beat Newcastle to ‘open’ Premier League forward

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be stepping up their efforts to land Brentford forward Yoane Wissa, as they aim to fend off rival interest from Newcastle United. According to BBC journalist Sami Mokbel, Spurs have begun “moving” towards a potential deal for the 28-year-old attacker, who is reportedly open to the transfer.

The north London club recently appointed Thomas Frank as their new manager following the departure of Ange Postecoglou. Despite a disappointing 17th-place finish in the Premier League last season, Tottenham managed to win the UEFA Europa League, which ultimately wasn’t enough to save Postecoglou’s job. Frank’s arrival has sparked speculation about Spurs raiding his former club, Brentford, with Wissa now emerging as a key target.

Tottenham have already been linked with Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo, and now attention has shifted to Wissa, who had an impressive Premier League campaign in 2024/25, racking up 19 goals and four assists. Mokbel shared an update on social media platform X, stating:

> “Tottenham moving for Brentford attacker Yoane Wissa, who is understood to be open to a move. #THFC weighing up financials attached to the deal.”

Meanwhile, Newcastle United are also reportedly monitoring Wissa’s situation. Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, journalist Craig Hope mentioned that Wissa and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins have been discussed internally at St James’ Park as potential transfer targets in recent weeks.

Hope pointed out a key consideration for Newcastle:

> “The problem is, they would both be fairly costly and, given their age (Wissa is 28 and Watkins is 29), there is little resale value. Would Watkins, in a World Cup year, want to join a club where [Alexander] Isak is No. 1?”

Newcastle will need to weigh their squad needs carefully, especially as they prepare for a busy campaign that includes Champions League football. Hope added that Wissa’s versatility, allowing him to play both centrally and on the wing, makes him a valuable option.

Despite the growing interest in Wissa, Brentford remain calm about the situation. Speaking to BBC Sport in May, Brentford’s director of football, Phil Giles, emphasized the club’s strong negotiating position and the fact that they are under no pressure to sell:

> “If I was looking at a striker or a wide player as another club, then they have to be on a shortlist, you would imagine. But the number of clubs that can sign them is small worldwide, so time will tell if a club has that need or requirement. At the moment, we are pretty relaxed.”

Giles further explained that while Brentford would ideally like to retain their key players, they also recognize the realities of the market:

> “There is always a very good chance of players staying. That’s the dream. But if a big club makes a really good offer for our players, then we have to look at it. We need to be good sellers and then use the money to invest wisely.”

He also recalled the club’s strategy during the sale of Ollie Watkins, highlighting Brentford’s pragmatic approach to transfers:

> “When we were in the Championship, we had Ollie Watkins. We signed him to a contract and promised to sell him if we didn’t get promoted. We kept our word because we needed cash due to Covid. Now, as a Premier League club, we don’t need to sell Wissa, Mbeumo, and others unless a strong offer comes in.”

As things stand, Tottenham appear to be leading the chase for Wissa, although Newcastle could still pose a significant challenge if they decide to push ahead. With Wissa open to a move and both clubs exploring their options, this transfer battle looks set to heat up as the summer window progresses.