The Alexander Isak and Yoane Wissa transfer sagas ran pretty much side by side this summer.
Eddie Howe caught in the middle.
Alexander Isak desperate to get out of St James’ Park, Yoane Wissa desperate to come to Tyneside.
The very final day of the summer 2025 transfer window bringing two official statements within minutes of each other.
Alexander Isak moving to Liverpool and Yoane Wissa signing for Newcastle United.
A new report has now made public the financial sacrifices that the DR Congo striker made, to help make the St James’ Park move possible.
Talksport report that their information is that Yoane Wissa waived significant bonus money owed to him AND ‘even made a wage concession to make the overall cost of the transfer more affordable to his new club.’
Whilst things had become fractious at Brentford as the player looked to get his Newcastle United move, Talksport also report that in the end a two hour meeting between Yoane Wissa and Brentford owner Matthew Benham cleared the air and saw him depart on good terms.
This news emerging as Yoane Wissa could now be set to shortly get on the pitch for Newcastle United.
On Monday we heard that DR Congo had agreed not to select the striker for AFCON (African Cup Of Nations).
This meant that it wasn’t to be a case of Newcastle United getting Yoane Wissa fit at last and then losing him for up to five weeks in December and January.
This new media report revealing on this front that ‘After conversations with both Newcastle and Congo manager Sebastian Desabre, all parties agreed it was better to focus on Newcastle, given Wissa hasn’t played for six months.’
To be honest, the World Cup is far more important for DR Congo and with them having to win just one more game in March in order to qualify for the 2026 finals in Mexico, Canada and the USA, having Yoane Wissa fully fit and ready for that via sustained club form, is surely a far bigger priority.
As for Newcastle United fans, it was also great to hear on Monday, Eddie Howe giving us an update on Yoane Wissa and the final steps of his route into becoming part of NUFC matchday squads:
“Yoane participated in an 11v11 training game while we were at Everton.
“He’ll have another one at some stage this week and we’ll see how close he is.”
Then a further very encouraging update, this time via the media on Wednesday. Stating that Yoane Wissa had successfully came through another behind closed doors 11 v 11 match AND that there is a chance he will make the bench against Burnley on Saturday.
This would be a huge boost for Eddie Howe, the playing squad, plus of course the Newcastle United fans.
With Will Osula currently unavailable with an ankle problem, on top of the ongoing Yoane Wissa absence, it has meant 18 year old Sean Neave on the bench in recent matches as the only out and out striker cover.
It is one of the busiest periods of the season and starting on Saturday there are five matches in total in a couple of weeks, starting with Burnley on the 6th December and Chelsea on 20th December.
Burnley (H) 6 December, Bayer Leverkusen (A) 10 December, Sunderland (A) 14 December, Fulham (H) 17 December, Chelsea (H) 20 December, Man U 26 December.
I know we have all felt sorry for ourselves as Newcastle United fans, not to have Yoane Wissa available these opening months of the season.
However, you have to feel sorry as well for the player himself.
Having Wissa available would significantly increase Eddie Howe’s options in how he could set his team up for maximum goal threat, the DR Congo able to play the lone striker role but also the mouthwatering prospect of how he could potentially link up with Nick Woltemade in the same team.
Here’s hoping we get to experience that in the near future.
