Aaron Wan Bissaka
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Boothroyd insists England will not stall Wan-Bissaka deal

Aidy Boothroyd insists England will not stall Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s proposed move to Manchester United.

The Crystal Palace full-back is currently away with the England U21 side at this summer’s European Championships in Italy, with the 21-year-old reportedly having agreed personal terms with United, who have so far seen two bids rejected by Roy Hodgson’s side.

Manchester United are expected to return with a bid in the region of £50m, a deal which will make the highly-rated youngster one of the most expensive full-backs in football history.

England U21 manager Boothroyd believes talk of a transfer may have distracted Wan-Bissaka, with the full-back scoring a last-minute own goal in England’s defeat to France, but says the national team will not stall the deal being completed.

“I could dodge it by saying you have to ask him [whether he’s been distracted] but I won’t,” Boothroyd said ahead of Friday’s game against Romania.

“I think when you are nearly going to move and all the things that would go through an older person’s head, who is more experienced in life, it would be difficult for them to cope with. For a young player who all he knows is Crystal Palace academy, Crystal Palace first team, it would be daft not to say that in some way he must think about it. I would not be truthful if I told you anything other than that.

“What I will say is because he doesn’t say too much, you don’t get to find out too much. Aaron keeps things to himself. He is a very private guy. When that speculation is flying around it is bound to turn your head. But having said that, had he not scored the own goal we probably would not be having this conversation.”

Boothroyd compared the transfer to Jordan Pickford’s move to Everton in 2017, with the goalkeeper having also been with the U21 side at the European Championships that summer when he completed a £30m move from Sunderland during the tournament, and Boothroyd says England will do all they can to ‘help’ any proposed deals.

“It’s been going on for a long time,” he said. “In Poland last time we had a similar situation with Jordan Pickford. There was a lot of speculation, Everton agreed the deal, they worked very closely with us and were very respectful in terms of not getting involved in our buildup. In the end it was done in a hotel down the road away from everything else, all the medicals, and got done.

“If that was to happen we certainly wouldn’t be blocking anybody, we’d be talking to people and seeing if we could help out – providing both clubs were happy with it. If that happens we’ll oblige and if it doesn’t suit us we’ll find a time when it does.”

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