Brentford
Kalimuendo Poised for Premier League Move as Rennes Prepares Contingency
Rennes ready for Kalimuendo exit as Brentford and Newcastle hold talks; Beye signals contingency…

Arnaud Kalimuendo’s future at Stade Rennais is under clear scrutiny after reports linked the 23-year-old striker with a move to the Premier League. L’Equipe says Brentford and Newcastle United are in talks with Rennes over Kalimuendo, who remains under contract until 2027.
Last season Kalimuendo scored 17 goals and provided 3 assists in 33 Ligue 1 appearances, a return that established him as a leading attacking option for Rennes. His absence from the club’s pre-season friendly against Genoa, which finished 2-2, has heightened speculation and prompted a measured response from the coach.
“I have to anticipate certain things,” Beye said. “If things were to change, we have to be able to see other solutions. For the moment, Arnaud is a Stade Rennais player, whom I consider 100% in his commitment to this club, but I have to be able to anticipate in case something happens before the Marseille match.”
Beye’s comments underline that Rennes is preparing for the possibility of Kalimuendo leaving and that the club is assessing alternatives ahead of competitive fixtures. The potential departure would leave a significant gap in Rennes’ attacking ranks given the forward’s influence last season.
Reports indicate Brentford’s interest is more advanced, while Newcastle United are also pursuing discussions. Kalimuendo is said to have turned down a move to Leeds United earlier in the summer, suggesting he is selective about his next destination and keen on a Premier League challenge.
Should a transfer materialise, Rennes will need to act quickly in the market to replace a player who played a central role in their attack. For Kalimuendo, a switch to either Brentford or Newcastle would represent an opportunity to test himself in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues and join clubs with clear ambitions.
Brentford
Newcastle agree £55m deal for Yoane Wissa as Alexander Isak exit advances
Newcastle agree £55m deal for Yoane Wissa as Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool nears completion…

Newcastle United have reached agreement to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford as part of a wider reshuffle linked to Alexander Isak’s pending move to Liverpool. Sources report a £55 million fee, to be split across two payments, with Brentford also receiving a 25% sell-on clause.
The arrival of Wissa, who scored 19 Premier League goals last season, is intended to provide the additional striker firepower Newcastle sought after making Nick Woltemade their headline summer signing. Woltemade, a Germany international, joined the club in a deal reported at £69.3 million following Newcastle’s earlier pursuit of Benjamin Šeško, which was unsuccessful.
Newcastle’s interest in Wissa dates back to July, when an opening bid of £25 million was rejected. The club later returned with an offer of £35 million plus a potential £5 million in add-ons, but Brentford continued to hold out for higher compensation. That hard stance left Wissa publicly frustrated by his club’s refusal to sanction a sale at what he felt was a fair price.
Despite the earlier standoff, The Athletic have now confirmed that the two clubs have finalised terms. The structure of the payment and the sell-on clause reflect Brentford’s determination to extract full value for the 28-year-old forward.
For Newcastle, the signing constitutes the second significant forward recruitment of the window and was described internally as a priority all summer. Wissa’s proven goalscoring record in the Premier League is expected to ease the pathway for Isak’s departure to Liverpool by ensuring the Magpies retain depth in attack.
All elements of the deal now appear to be in place pending any formalities, with the transfer positioned as a direct response to the club’s simultaneous outgoing business and an attempt to balance squad needs ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Brentford
Wissa Issues Public Appeal to Brentford After Newcastle Transfer Interest
Wissa has publicly asked Brentford to honour a promise and allow him to leave for Newcastle. Urgent.

Yoane Wissa made a public appeal to Brentford in the closing stages of the transfer window, accusing the club of reneging on an agreement that he says would have permitted his departure. The striker has been pressing to move to Newcastle United and, according to sources, Newcastle recently had an offer rejected.
A proposal from Newcastle reportedly consisted of an initial £35 million plus £5 million in add-ons described as difficult to achieve. Brentford are thought to be holding out for around £60 million. During the summer Wissa abstained from training and deleted all social media posts relating to Brentford from his accounts.
Wissa posted a lengthy statement on Instagram in which he set out the basis for his complaint. “I feel compelled make it clear that I want to leave Brentford. I believe the club are unduly standing in my way despite a series of fair offers throughout the summer,” he wrote on Instagram .
He recounted discussions with Brentford leadership. “Earlier this summer, I held open discussions with the club’s senior management, including key directors and the new head coach. I made clear my intention to explore a new challenge.
“During these conversations, it was confirmed to me and my representatives that the club would not stand in my way if a reasonable offer was received. This was also put in writing. Based on this understanding, I sought to find a new club, keeping Brentford informed with full transparency at every step.
“I received a formal offer from another Premier League club and communicated I wanted to join. I was under the impression, from all my conversations with Brentford, that there was a mutual agreement to part ways.
“Yet as the window comes to an end, the club has now significantly changed its position, going against what was communicated. This has left me in a difficult and frustrating position. The promise that I could leave this summer has not been fulfilled.”
Newcastle confirmed the signing of Nick Woltemade for a club-record £69 million on Saturday. Reports from Tyneside claim Alexander Isak will only be allowed to join Liverpool if Newcastle bring in two new strikers, one to cover for the Swede and one as Callum Wilson’s replacement. Wissa has made clear his desire to move to St James’ Park. “Being made to stay beyond this summer will only tarnish four wonderful years at this incredible club, Wissa conluded, “and so I ask Brentford’s owners and directors to now honour their promise to let me leave in the final hours of the window.”
Brentford
Premier League trio pursuing Brentford captain Nathan Collins
Premier League clubs are tracking Brentford centre back Nathan Collins amid growing summer interest.

Premier League interest in Brentford centre back Nathan Collins has intensified this summer, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur all credited with admiration by the Daily Mail. Collins has become one of the division’s more talked-about defensive options after a difficult first appearance against Wolves was followed by a sustained run of improved performances.
Former Bees boss Thomas Frank attributed the turnaround to Collins’ concentration, and the Dane’s managerial replacement, Keith Andrews, promoted the towering defender to club captain this summer. Brentford have already lost a number of players this window, which may complicate any potential transfer, but reports suggest interest in Collins is “surging.”
The appeal is understandable. Collins completed his 71st Premier League appearance on Sunday, an experience tally that contrasts with some of the younger defensive options across the league. Liverpool have added Giovanni Leoni from Parma to their ranks this summer, giving Arne Slot more depth at the back, but the 18-year-old has only half a season of Serie A football in senior competition. Collins would bring a more established Premier League record and could be considered as an alternative if a move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi does not materialise.
Manchester United have not yet made a senior defensive signing beyond their forward signings this summer, leaving Ruben Amorim with largely the same squad that produced the 11th-worst Premier League defence last season. Tottenham conceded 11 more league goals than United, though they have already added two young defenders, Kōta Takai and Luka Vušković, this window.
Brentford’s new manager expressed clear regard for his captain. “He’s always been a natural leader,” the new manager gushed after Collins was given the armband in August, “he’s gained a lot of experience considering the age that he is, and he’s developed his professionalism to a new level because he’s been involved in this environment for a couple of years and has learnt from some great people.”,
Clubs across the top flight will monitor Collins’ situation as the transfer window progresses.