Al-Nassr is set to go head-to-head with Newcastle United, with both clubs sharing ownership, in the quest for Yoane Wissa, as reported by CBS Sports. The Saudi club plans to meet Brentford’s asking price for the DR Congo international, which could complicate things further in what has already been a troublesome transfer season for Newcastle.

Wissa has recently emerged as a prime target for Newcastle to enhance their offensive lineup, especially after they failed to secure several other prospects, including his former teammate Bryan Mbeumo. Brentford turned down a bid of around $40.3 million, providing Al-Nassr with the opportunity to make their move.

A transfer from Cristiano Ronaldo’s club would undoubtedly stir controversy in Newcastle, given that both clubs are owned by the Saudi investment group PIF. This sovereign wealth fund acquired a majority stake in Newcastle in October 2021 and later invested in several top clubs in the Saudi Pro League, amid a wave of spending in the nation. Unlike Newcastle, Al-Nassr is not subject to any PSR spending caps, allowing them to enhance their roster significantly while Newcastle struggles to do the same.

It remains uncertain whether Wissa would prefer a transfer to Saudi Arabia or remains keen on Newcastle, who can offer him Champions League play. He returned to training at Brentford this week after a brief return from the club’s preseason camp in Portugal, but his desire to leave the club, where he netted 19 Premier League goals in the 2024-25 season, still stands.

Should Al-Nassr succeed in acquiring Wissa, they would likely need to make room on their roster, as Saudi clubs can only have 10 foreign players at a time, of which two must be 23 years old or younger at the season’s start. Al-Nassr is believed to be receptive to offers for both Sadio Mané and Otávio, with Aymeric Laporte also likely to be on the move due to the expected arrival of Barcelona’s Inigo Martinez.