Yoane Wissa has rejoined full training with Brentford and could feature against Crystal Palace this weekend, according to head coach Keith Andrews.
The 28-year-old forward, who missed the Bees’ opening-day defeat to Nottingham Forest after requesting to leave the club, has been reintegrated with the squad in recent days.
Newcastle United remain keen on the DR Congo international, but their latest approach – an offer of £35m up front plus £5m in add-ons – was rejected earlier this week, with Brentford holding firm on their valuation. A previous proposal worth up to £30m had also been turned down.
Despite speculation over his future, Andrews insists he will decide closer to the weekend whether Wissa will be involved at Selhurst Park.
“He’s [Yoane Wissa] been training with the team,” Andrews said.
“In terms of being involved this weekend I’ll make a decision on the squad on Saturday. He’s been part of the group this week.”
When asked if the striker will still be a Brentford player beyond the summer transfer window, Andrews added: “He’s a Brentford player right now. My stance around Yoane all along is that I don’t want him to leave.
“I don’t want to lose a player of that quality and that hasn’t really changed throughout the whole episode. So hopefully he is here in the next 10 or 12 days. That is what I would like.”
Wissa hit 19 Premier League goals last season, form that has attracted attention from higher up the division, with Eddie Howe eager to strengthen his Newcastle squad ahead of their Champions League campaign.
Tensions between Wissa and Brentford surfaced in July when he flew home early from the club’s pre-season camp in Portugal, later threatening not to play or train again if a move to Tyneside was blocked. He also recently removed all links to the Bees from his Instagram account.
The forward had anticipated that his transfer would be sanctioned this week, particularly after Brentford broke their transfer record by signing Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth in a deal worth up to £42.5m.
The West London club have already seen fellow attacker Bryan Mbeumo depart for Manchester United earlier this summer.
