Man United duo Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe ‘hold positive talks with DR Congo over England’s switch of international allegiance’… with both defenders ignored by Gareth Southgate
- Neither Wan-Bissaka nor Tuanzebe have been internationals for England in the senior category.
- Reports in the Democratic Republic of the Congo suggest they may switch their allegiance to the African nation
- DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre held ‘positive’ talks with Wan-Bissaka
Manchester United duo Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe have reportedly held “positive” talks about representing the Democratic Republic of Congo internationally.
Both defenders have represented England at youth level but could yet switch their allegiance to the African nation with Gareth Southgate thus far not seeing them for a senior debut.
Center defender Tuanzebe, currently on loan at championship club Stoke City, was born in the Congolese city of Bunia, while right-back Wan-Bissaka is of Congolese descent.
A local post there, leopard football leaderreports that DR Congo head coach Sebastien Desabre has spoken extensively with Wan-Bissaka and says the United player would consider the offer, especially if they make it to the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Wan-Bissaka, 25, previously made one under-20 appearance for the Democratic Republic of Congo, an 8-0 friendly loss to England in October 2015, before playing twice for the England under-20 team and three times for the Under-21s in 2018 and 2019.
Manchester United defenders Aaron Wan-Bissaka (left) and Axel Tuanzebe (right), currently on loan at Stoke, could switch their international allegiance to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
England manager Gareth Southgate has largely overlooked the defensive pairing amid stiff competition for places in the Three Lions squad.
In May 2019, Wan-Bissaka reaffirmed his commitment to England and was called up by Southgate in August of that year for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Kosovo and Bulgaria.
However, he was forced to withdraw from that Three Lions squad with a back injury and, amid stiff competition for right-backs from Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold, has not summoned again.
Leopard Football Leader say the talks were positive and Wan-Bissaka could switch allegiance in the near future.
They also say the 25-year-old Tuanzebe, who was briefly on the cusp of a breakthrough at United when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was manager but has since gone on loan several times, is also open to playing for DR Congo.
He played for England at under-19, under-20 and under-21 level between 2016 and 2017, but has not received a full call-up.
Right-back Wan-Bissaka has Congolese parents and has represented them at youth level
Tuanzebe has become something of a forgotten man at Old Trafford amid several loan spells
United manager Erik ten Hag decided to loan Tuanzebe to Stoke at the end of January. That followed three separate loan spells with Aston Villa and an injury-hit season with Napoli.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has work to do if it wants to participate in AFCON next year. They currently sit bottom of their four-nation qualifying group having lost to Gabon and Sudan, before a 3-1 win over Mauritania.
They are due to play Mauritania in the reverse fixture on Tuesday.