Yoane Wissa has returned to training with the Brentford squad and the striker could face Aston Villa this weekend, head coach Keith Andrews says.
The 28-year-old missed last weekend’s Premier League opening-day defeat at Nottingham Forest as he had been training away from the squad after saying he wished to leave the club.
A second bid from Newcastle United worth up to £40m for the DR Congo forward was rejected this week.
Newcastle reopened talks with Brentford on Wednesday but sources have told BBC Sport that the latest bid of a £35m initial fee plus a further £5m in add-ons fell below the Bees’ valuation.
Earlier this week, the DR Congo forward removed all association with the Bees from his Instagram account, but Andrews now says he has a “decision to make” over whether Wissa will be involved on Saturday.
“He’s been training with the team,” said Andrews.
“In terms of being involved this weekend I’ll make a decision on the squad on Saturday. He’s been part of the group this week.”
Asked if Wissa will stay with the Bees beyond the transfer window, Andrews said: “He’s a Brentford player right now. My stance around Yoane all along is that I don’t want him to leave.
“I don’t want to lose a player of that quality and that hasn’t really changed throughout the whole episode. So hopefully he is here in the next 10 or 12 days. That is what I would like.”
Wissa’s 19 goals in last season’s Premier League has attracted interest from clubs higher up the league, and Eddie Howe is looking at ways to improve his squad with Newcastle returning to the Champions League this term.
Brentford had previously rejected Newcastle’s bid worth up to £30m.
BBC Sport were first to reveal that Wissa had flown home early from their pre-season camp in Portugal in July, after which he threatened not to play or train for the club again if they did not sanction his move to the north east of England.
Wissa expected a move to Newcastle to be agreed this week after Brentford completed a club-record deal of up to £42.5m for Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth.
Brentford have already lost another forward, Bryan Mbeumo, this summer to Manchester United.
