Manchester United risk losing Aaron Wan-Bissaka to AFCON after 'approach from DR Congo'

African nation reportedly make move to call up London-born defender
Marc Mayo23 November 2023

DR Congo have launched an approach to call Manchester United player Aaron Wan-Bissaka up to their national team ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, according to reports.

A report in The Athletic details plans from the Central African nation to bring in the defender ahead of this winter's tournament.

Wan-Bissaka, 25, was born in London and represented both England and DR Congo, who he is eligible for through his heritage, as a youth international.

It is said he is considering the switch ahead of AFCON kicking off in January.

DR Congo, which boasts Brentford forward Yoane Wissa among its star players, will face Zambia to kick off their group campaign on January 17 before games against Morocco and Tanzania.

If Wan-Bissaka accepts the call-up, he will miss as much as a month of action for United.

AFCON players are expected to depart around the time of the FA Cup third round, on the weekend of January 6, after which United play Tottenham, a possible fourth-round tie, Wolves, West Ham and Aston Villa. The former Crystal Palace man will also miss any replays during the two rounds in the cup - making for a potential total of eight absent games.

The Red Devils are also set to be without Morocco's Sofyan Amrabat and Cameroon's Andre Onana during their participation in Ivory Coast.

England will hope to keep Wan-Bissaka among their options but his chances of breaking into Gareth Southgate's squad anytime soon look slim.

Only called up once, in August 2019 before withdrawing due to injury, the right-back finds himself behind Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James and the recently emerging Rico Lewis in the Three Lions' pecking order.

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