Two-time African champions Ivory Coast want Chelsea’s new signing Wesley Fofana ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 21-year-old defender has been subjected to transfer speculation before he finally moves to Stamford Bridge from Leicester City in a deal worth up to £75m after add-on.
Fofana was born in Marseille and is yet to feature for Didier Deschamps’ squads despite playing for France U21 against Liechtenstein in October 2020 and has earned six caps for the age group.
Former Leicester City star was recently overlooked as Les Blues coach in the international break where World Champions beat Austria 2-0 before losing to Denmark as they crash out of the UEFA Nations League.
According to French sports daily L’Equipe. The Ivorian Football Federation are trying to persuade Fofana to pledge his international future to the two-time African champions.
The Chelsea summer signing’s family are reportedly keen on the idea of Fofana switching his international allegiance from France to Ivory Coast ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, Saint-Étienne Academy gradute hasn’t given up on his dream of playing for France in this winter’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Fofana has made two appearances for Chelsea since his move, but he has work to do in order to break into Deschamps’ squad, which isn’t short on centre-backs.
The Ivorian Federation successfully convinced former France youth internationals Wilfried Kanga, Jérémie Boga and Sébastien Haller to play for the Elephants.