DR Congo keen on Aaron Wan-Bissaka

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Mar 17, 2019. 09:00

After being snubbed by England’s latest national team selection, Crystal Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka may have the chance to turn out for DR Congo.

The 21-year-old has been one of the outstanding figures in the Eagles’ 2018/19 season and there were strong calls for him to be named in England’s latest squad by manager Gareth Southgate – especially with Keiran Trippier out of form for Tottenham Hotspur.

However, Southgate decided to keep the Palace defender with Aidy Boothroyd in the Under-21 setup.

Now DR Congo coach Florent Ibenge is ready to hand a call-up to Wan-Bissaka, who made one appearance for their Under-20 team back in 2015.

“We will be ready for him to join us if he decides [to]," Ibenge told The Independent. "I hope he makes a good choice.”

Southgate, when asked why he had not called up Wan-Bissaka, said he had no intention of merely fielding the player to ensure he can’t play for another national team.

However, he revealed that the defender is very much in his thinking: "I’m not prepared to pick players just to stop the possibility of other countries picking them.”

He added, "Aaron Wan-Bissaka is playing very well, and he’s really pushing to be in our squad – there’s no question.

"I could pick players, give them a cap, and stop them playing somewhere else but I don’t think that’s right."