by And the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia is also expected to take place in January, Takehiro Tomiyasu (Japan) he asked to “play the Asian Cup in June, the same as the Euros”. The defender has quietly impressed this season and will miss at least five Gunners games if favorites Japan reach the Asian Cup final. Mohamed Elneny (Egypt) leaving for Afcon but Ghana’s Thomas Partey is not injured.
With Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso) Making the league last October, the only departure from Villa shouldn’t be too much for Unai Emery. The right wing is well covered at the club with Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby impressing this season.
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso) He missed Sunday’s win at Tottenham with a “swollen ankle” but will travel to the Ivory Coast. London-born Antoine Semenyo (Ghana) he only made his international debut in Afcon qualification but has had a huge impact on his country as well as his club. Hamed Traoré has been withdrawn from the Ivory Coast squad after Bournemouth revealed the midfielder was recovering from malaria.
With Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo aside, the departure of the forward Yoane Wissa (DR Congo) It’s a huge blow to Thomas Frank, though Saman Ghoddos (Iran) Has started each of Brentford’s last seven games. Frank Onyeka (Nigeria) it is another loss in midfield but the teenager Kim Ji-soo (South Korea) He has yet to feature in the first team since his summer move.
Kaoru Mitoma (Japan), one of only three players on this list to make the Guardian’s list of the 100 best male footballers in the world, will be crucial for his country at the Asian Cup. Tariq Lamptey’s injury leaves him out of the Ghana squad, and while there were concerns that the same fate could befall Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast) after a hamstring strain, the winger has said “the rumors that Brighton are keeping me out of the Afcon are completely wrong”.
Burnley
The Clarets are one of three sides not to lose a player. Lyle Foster was included in South Africa’s preliminary squad but was ultimately omitted for mental health reasons, a decision Burnley manager Vincent Kompany called “sensible”, despite the striker having started Burnley’s past three games. Anass Zaroury has been left out of the Morocco squad.
Chelsea
Nicolas Jackson (Senegal) The only event is as he makes his Afcon debut, hoping to help his country defend the title they won in Cameroon. The striker has split opinion since his move from Villarreal and will miss at least four games.
Crystal Palace
Jordan Ayew (Ghana) He left his Afcon sixth, joining his brother André at the tournament. The attacker is far from prolific for club and country but is highly valued for his intelligence and selfless running. Cheick Doucouré would have been a certainty in the Mali squad but for his season-ending achilles injury.
Everton
Idrissa Gueye (Senegal) He is one of six Premier League players in your favorite squad. Abdoulaye Doucouré made his first championship in Mali in 2022 but refused the call of his country to help Everton fight relegation. “I don’t want to go,” he said.
Fulham
Born in Italy, raised in east London, Calvin Bassey (Nigeria) makes his Afcon debut for the Super Eagles, as a teammate Alex Iwobi (Nigeria) in his third tournament as he tries to emulate his uncle Jay-Jay Okocha’s Afcon triumph back in 1994. Fodé Ballo Touré (Senegal) An event is a third player.
Liverpool
The loss of Mohamed Salah (Egypt) It is a huge blow for Liverpool, with the opposition moving on top of the Premier League scoring charts with 14. Manchester City, Aston Villa and Arsenal fans will be hoping the 31-year-old makes it to the Afcon final again. Wataru Endo (Japan) He has emerged as the main chef for Jürgen Klopp’s side as he leaves for the Asian Cup.
Luton town
Issa Kaboré (Burkina Faso) left after impressing on loan from Manchester City. The manager, Rob Edwards, will be pleased that Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu had no place in the DR Congo squad.
City of Manchester
In an ominous sign for City’s title rivals, Pep Guardiola has no international absentees.
Manchester United
André Onana (Cameroon) He will join his team-mates just 24 hours before their Afcon opener against Guinea after being cleared to play in United’s league game against Tottenham on January 14, meaning he will also be available for the Cup round the FA on Monday against Wigan. Sofia Amrabat (Morocco) He left for Africa but Amad Diallo is not in the Ivory Coast squad – the 21-year-old made his debut of the season in the win at Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle
Eddie Howe’s side do not have a player in either competition. They were linked with a January move for Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia, who is in the Senegal squad.
Nottingham Forest
No team in the Premier League will lose more players than Forest, with six leaving for Afcon. Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast) and Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast) represent the tournament host, and Cheikhou Kouyaté (Senegal), Moussa Niakhaté (Senegal) and Ola Aina (Nigeria) they are key losses for the new manager, Nuno Espírito Santo.
Sheffield United
The Blades become quite light with Anis Ben Slimane (Tunisia) the only first team regular to leave. Yasser Larouci (Algeria) he surprised Afcon but the former Liverpool academy player is yet to play since joining on loan from Troyes in the summer.
Tottenham
The departure of three essential players for Ange Postecoglou leaves Spurs looking very short. Form of Pope Sarr (Senegal) the midfielder recently earned a new six-and-a-half-year contract, and Yves Bissouma (Mali) he was also excellent this season. How to replace Tottenham Son Heung-min (South Korea) they will certainly dictate their success over this period. The Spurs captain could easily be out until mid-February.
West Ham
With Lucas Paquetá injured, the lost Mohammed Kudus (Ghana) at a bad time for David Moyes, whose team struggled for creativity in Tuesday’s lifeless 0-0 draw with Brighton. The lack Nayef Aguard (Morocco) It’s another blow, although the defender has been linked with a January move to Roma, Milan and Saudi Arabia.
wolves
Hwang Hee-chan (South Korea) having driven Wolves to 11th place in the Premier League with 10 goals – more than Ollie Watkins and Alexander Isak. Boubacar Traoré (Mali) Gary O’Neil came off the bench more than just leaving Rayan Ait-Nouri (Algeria) it’s a big blow – the left-back switched allegiance from France last year. The under-21 player Justin Hubner (Indonesia) selected in his country’s squad.
