Brentford to face Nottingham Forest without Yoane Wissa

Brentford will head into their Premier League season opener without forward Yoane Wissa, with manager Keith Andrews confirming the 28-year-old Congo international will not be part of the squad for Sunday's trip to Nottingham Forest amid ongoing uncertainty over his future. The decision comes after a disrupted pre-season marked by sustained interest from Newcastle United and a series of squad changes at Brentford, including the departure of key attackers and several new signings.

Wissa enjoyed one of Brentford’s most productive campaigns last season, scoring 19 league goals as part of a 20-goal haul in all competitions. His form had attracted concrete transfer interest, with Newcastle United among the clubs that made bids during the summer. Brentford reportedly valued the forward at well over 50 million pounds, a figure that has complicated negotiations as the transfer window moves toward its deadline. Wissa left Brentford’s training camp in Portugal in July and returned only recently, after staying away from preseason fixtures as the transfer talk intensified. His future at the club remains uncertain, and his absence on Sunday underscores the club’s reluctance to risk...