WAN DIRECTION
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has had his head turned by £60m Man Utd transfer interest, admits England U-21 boss Aidy Boothroyd
AIDY BOOTHROYD admits Aaron Wan-Bissaka has had his head turned by Manchester United.
The Crystal Palace defender, who is closing on a £60million switch to Old Trafford, scored a farcical own goal for Boothroyd’s England Under-21s on Tuesday.
"It condemned the Young Lions to a 2-1 defeat by France in their Euro 2019 opener in Italy.
Boss Boothroyd said: “When speculation is flying around it is bound to turn your head.
“Having said that, had he not scored the own goal we wouldn’t be having this conversation!”
Right-back Wan-Bissaka, 21, has been with the Eagles for ten years.
Boothroyd added: “For a young player, who all he knows is the Palace academy and the Palace first team, it’d be daft not to say that in some way he must think about it.
“What I will say is because he doesn’t say too much you don’t get to find out too much. Aaron is a very private guy.”
United are believed to want to complete the deal within the next 48 hours.
Boothroyd, whose U21s face Romania in Cesena tonight, has said he would not attempt to halt the transfer.
He said: “We wouldn’t be blocking anybody. If it happens we’ll oblige and if it doesn’t suit us we’ll find a time when it does.”
Wan-Bissaka is reportedly set to confirm terms on a five-year United deal worth an initial £120,000 per week.
Palace fought hard to keep him and rebuffed United’s first offer of up to £50m.
Now the eventual fee will beat the £52m rivals Manchester City paid Monaco for French left-back Benjamin Mendy two years ago.
It also tops the price City paid ’s fees for both Kyle Walker and John Stones.
