(Credit: Imago/Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Sat 16 August 2025 11:00, UK

Liverpool may be “surprise” contenders to beat Newcastle United to Yoane Wissa’s signature but there is a clear favourite to agree a deal, sources have told Football Insider.

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Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what sources have told him about the race to sign the exit-linked Brentford striker.

Wissa is one of several targets who Liverpool could sign instead of Alexander Isak after failing to agree a fee with Newcastle for their own want-away frontman, with both players refusing to train with their clubs.

However, sources have told Football Insider that Newcastle are “well advanced” in their talks to sign Wissa this summer, but those talks won’t progress further until the Bees secure a replacement for him.

Football Insider revealed on Friday that after Brentford agreed a £37million deal to sign Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth, the path could now be clear for Wissa to complete his own move to St.

James’ Park.

Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images

Stefan Borson told Football Insider on 12 August that Al-Nassr could beat Newcastle to Wissa’s signing in a direct blow from another PIF-owned club, but the Magpies are now well-placed to seal his signature.

Speaking on the new Inside Track podcast, O’Rourke was asked about Liverpool‘s left-field interest in Wissa as an alternative to Isak, as both they and Newcastle attempt to secure their top transfer targets.

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“I would be surprised”, he told Football Insider.

“It looks like Newcastle are well advanced in this race to sign Wissa, but Brentford don’t want to let him go until they bring in a replacement.

“I fully expect Wissa to make that move to St James’ Park before the end of the window, as long as Brentford do bring in a replacement.”

Wissa’s future has a huge bearing on Alexander Isak’s this summer (Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Much like Brentford, Newcastle had been reluctant to negotiate with Liverpool for Isak until they found a replacement themselves, but their latest attempt at signing one – Benjamin Sesko – went up in smoke.

Liverpool have already seen a £110million bid turned down by Newcastle for Isak, but Brentford’s move for Ouattara could kick-start a transfer merry-go-round which ends with the Swede arriving at Anfield.

Wissa’s move to Newcastle will soon be given the green light, but it remains to be seen if Eddie Howe softens his stance on Isak’s potential exit with the Magpies still arguably short of centre-forward options.

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