Brentford is showing serious interest in Bournemouth’s Dango Outtara as they brace for the potential departure of Yoane Wissa. This situation is reminiscent of my own backup plans when my local chippy runs out of cod on a Friday night.
Wissa’s Potential Departure
The Cherries are reportedly open to selling their Burkina Faso international for the right price, which could spark a fascinating chain reaction within the Premier League’s striking ranks. Brentford had previously maintained a firm stance about not selling Wissa, especially after Bryan Mbeumo’s £71 million move to Manchester United. However, the Bees are softening their position, contingent upon securing a suitable replacement first.
Currently, the 28-year-old Wissa is training alone after leaving Brentford’s pre-season camp in Portugal, clearly pushing for a move. Newcastle United has already submitted two bids for the player, including an initial offer of £30 million plus £5 million in add-ons. With less than a year left on his contract, Wissa believes he had a gentleman’s agreement with Brentford allowing him to leave this summer after committing to stay during the previous season.
Wissa’s Next Move
Despite attracting interest from Saudi Pro League clubs NEOM and Al-Nassr—both clubs believing Brentford would accept around £40 million—Wissa is prioritizing a move back to the Premier League. He aims for Champions League football and seems willing to wait for Newcastle or another European club to fulfill that ambition.
Outtara’s Arrival Could Spark Striker Movement
If Brentford successfully acquires Outtara, it may trigger a significant striker merry-go-round. This could pave the way for Newcastle to secure Wissa, potentially allowing Alexander Isak to pursue his desired move to Liverpool. The Magpies are understandably reluctant to lose their star forward without finding a replacement first.
Recently, Newcastle missed out on Benjamin Sesko, who chose Manchester United despite the club-record £69.4 million bid. They have also been linked with several other strikers, including Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, RB Leipzig’s Lois Openda, and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, while inquiring about Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Isak is currently training away from the Newcastle squad amid ongoing speculation about his future and is reportedly keen on joining Liverpool, who had a £110 million bid rejected earlier this month.
The Case for Dango Outtara
For Brentford, securing Outtara represents solid business. The 23-year-old scored seven goals in the Premier League last season, including a notable hat-trick against Nottingham Forest in January. Originally utilized as a left-back or wing-back, he emerged as a valuable striker for Bournemouth during their injury crisis.
Outtara joined Bournemouth from FC Lorient in 2023 for £19.5 million and is under contract until 2028. Should this transfer domino effect come to fruition, Liverpool might finally get their man in Isak—a much more appealing prospect than the unfortunate replacement I received when my cat turned my favorite armchair into a shredded mess.