ENGLAND could lose Aaron Wan-Bissaka after the DR Congo manager revealed he has contacted the young defender to try and convince him to snub the Three Lions.
Eyebrows were raised when Gareth Southgate left the Crystal Palace star out of his England squad for the upcoming internationals.
The Three Lions boss instead named Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier, who has struggled for form this season.
And now DR Congo are plotting to swoop for Wan-Bissaka – a target for some of the Premier League and Europe's top clubs – and get him to commit his future to the African nation.
Manager Florent Ibenge told the Independent: "It depends on him. I sent my scout to watch him four months ago and he sent me a report. He played very well.
"I won’t pick him for the squad, I want to speak with him first. I called him one month ago but he didn’t answer.
"He has to want to accept the invitation and want to play for Congo, like [Yannick] Bolasie.
"We will be ready for him to join us if he decides [to]. I hope he makes a good choice."
Wan-Bissaka, 21, was born in London and grew up in Croydon, near to Selhurst Park, but is of Congolese descent.
He made one appearance for DR Congo's Under-20 side – ironically in an 8-0 defeat to England U17s – in 2015.
But he made his England U20 debut in March 2018 before Aidy Boothroyd handed the full-back his debut for the U21s in the autumn.
And with Walker and Trippier both 28, Wan-Bissaka and Alexander-Arnold are expected to battle it out for England's right-back slot for many years.
Palace boss Roy Hodgson believes there is no rush to get him into the senior set up.
He said: "He's picked for England U21s which is a big honour. Gareth is obviously aware of Wan-Bissaka, it's up to him to keep playing well. At the age of 21 he's got an awful lot of time to play for England."
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