‘Nottingham Forest are working on brilliant signing’, bid already submitted
Nottingham Forest would be getting one of the most overlooked and underrated players in the Premier League if they sign Yoane Wissa this summer.
That’s according to former Manchester United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains well-connected in the game, and he exclusively told Football Insider that Wissa is indeed a top-class striker.
Wissa is the Premier League’s joint sixth-highest scorer with 14 goals this season – one less than his transfer-linked team-mate Bryan Mbeumo – and could move on from Brentford in the summer window.
Forest currently have the league’s fourth-leading scorer, Chris Wood, spearheading their charge towards a Champions League spot, but Nuno Espirito Santo is looking to strengthen regardless of qualification.
The Reds did attempt to bring in Wissa for a club record £40million fee in January, but Brentford held firm and held onto the Congolese international despite his contract being well into its final 18 months.
Yoane Wissa transfer a top priority for Nottingham Forest
Unless he signs a new contract between now and the end of the season, Wissa’s future looks certain to lie away from Brentford, and Forest will hope a Champions League place helps them to win the race.
Brown, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, wondered whether Wissa would fit in with Forest’s style of play.
“He’s a strange one, Wissa – I don’t think he comes to people’s minds when you’re talking about top-class players, but you ignore him at your peril because he does come up with goals”, Brown told Football Insider.
“I think he’s better than a lot of us give him credit for. What sort of player is it Forest look for to improve their team?
“They’re based on the two widemen and their pace, getting in behind players on the break and getting crosses in for the big centre-forward.
“Wissa, to me, is a box player – and I don’t mean to be disrespectful when I say that – he’s not somebody who comes linking the play up and combining with people and that type of thing. Forest are working here on a brilliant signing.”
Wissa will be a hit for Nottingham Forest
Though Brown has cast doubt on Wissa’ ability to drop deep and provide link-up play for Forest’s star creators like Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga, he provides other qualities.
Wissa will struggle to immediately displace Wood in Espirito Santo’s attacking quarter and doesn’t offer the same physical presence up front, but he will have both pace and age on his side next season.
Forest qualifying for Europe in any capacity means they’ll need a much deeper squad to compete on multiple fronts, and providing an alternative to the 33-year-old Wood has to be their top priority.
With Wissa being five years Wood’s junior, they’ll struggle to find a better striker than the 28-year-old, and if Brentford are open to sell this summer, he is the striker whom Forest simply must make theirs.