by With the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia also expected to take place in January, Takehiro Tomiyasu (Japan) He has asked that “the Asian Cup be played in June, like the European Championship.” The defender has quietly impressed this season and will miss at least five of the Gunners’ games if favorites Japan reach the Asian Cup final. Mohamed Elneny (Egypt) He leaves for Afcon, but the injured Thomas Partey has not been selected for Ghana.
With Bertrand Traoré (Burkino Faso) Last playing in the league in October, Villa’s only exit shouldn’t be a big loss for Unai Emery. The club is well covered on the right wing with Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby impressing this season.
Dango Ouattara (Burkino Faso) He limped off from the loss to Tottenham on Sunday with “a swollen ankle” but is due to travel to the Ivory Coast. born in london Antoine Semenyo (Ghana) He made his international debut only in Afcon qualifying, but has become very influential for both his country and 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 Hamed Traoré has been withdrawn from the Ivory Coast squad after Bournemouth revealed the midfielder was recovering from malaria.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 out, the forward’s departure Yoane Wissa (DR Congo) It is a hard blow for Thomas Frank, while Saman Ghoddos (Iran) He has started each of Brentford’s last seven games. Frank Onyeka (Nigeria) It’s another midfield loss but the teenager Kim Ji-soo (South Korea) He is yet to feature in the first team since his summer signing.
Kaoru Mitoma (Japan), one of only three players on this list to be among the top 100 men’s footballers in the world according to The Guardian, will be key for his country in the Asian Cup. Tariq Lamptey’s injury has kept him out of the Ghana squad and, although there were concerns, he could suffer the same fate. Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast) After a hamstring strain, the winger said “the rumors that Brighton are keeping me away from the Afcon are completely false.”
Burnley
The Clarets are one of three teams that do not 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 forward starting the last three games. from Burnley. Anass Zaroury has been left out of the Morocco squad.
Chelsea
Nicolas Jackson (Senegal) is the only outing on his Afcon debut, hoping to help his country defend the title they won in Cameroon. The forward has divided opinions since his departure from Villarreal and will miss a minimum of four games.
crystal Palace
Jordan Ayew (Ghana) He set off for his sixth Afcon, joining his brother André in the tournament. The attacker is far from prolific for club and country, but he is highly valued for his intelligence and his selfless career. Cheick Doucouré would have been a certainty in the Mali team if not for his season-ending Achilles tendon injury.
Everton
Idrissa Gueye (Senegal) He is one of six Premier League players in the favorites team. Abdoulaye Doucouré made his debut in Mali in 2022, but rejected his country’s call-up to help Everton in the relegation fight. “I don’t want to go,” he said.
Fulham
Born in Italy, raised in East London, Calvin Bassey (Nigeria) makes his Afcon debut with the Super Eagles, while teammate Alex Iwobi (Nigeria) He appears in his third tournament as he looks to emulate his uncle Jay-Jay Okocha’s Afcon triumph in 1994. Fodé Ballo-Toure (Senegal) He is the third player to leave.
Liverpool
The lost of Mohamed Salah (Egypt) It is a huge blow for Liverpool as the striker leads the Premier League scoring charts with 14. Manchester City, Aston Villa and Arsenal fans are hoping the 31-year-old will reach the Afcon final again. . Wataru Endo (Japan) He has become a key piece for Jürgen Klopp’s team ahead of the Asian Cup.
luton city
Issa Kaboré (Burkino Faso) He leaves having made a real impression, on loan from Manchester City. Coach Rob Edwards will be glad there is no place for Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu in the DR Congo squad.
city of manchester
In an ominous sign for City’s title rivals, Pep Guardiola has no international absences.
manchester united
André Onana (Cameroon) He will only join his compatriots 24 hours before the first Afcon match against Guinea after being granted permission to play in United’s league match against Tottenham on January 14, meaning he will also be available for the Monday’s FA Cup match against Wigan. Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco) He left for Africa, but Amad Diallo is not in the Ivory Coast squad: the 21-year-old made his first appearance of the season in the defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Newcastle
Eddie Howe’s team does not have a player in any of the tournaments. They have been linked with a January departure for Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia, who is in the Senegal squad.
Nottingham Forest
No Premier League team will lose more players than Forest – six will leave for Afcon. Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast) and Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast) represent the tournament hosts, while Cheikhou Kouyaté (Senegal), Moussa Niakhaté (Senegal) and Ola Aina (Nigeria) They are key losses for the new coach, Nuno Espírito Santo.
Sheffield United
The Blades come out relatively well with Anis Ben Slimane (Tunisia) the only first team starter to depart. Yasser Larouci (Algeria) He was a surprise Afcon inclusion, 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 the Spurs very short. The way of Pape Sarr (Senegal) has recently earned the midfielder a new contract for six and a half years, and Yves Bissouma (Mali) He’s also been excellent this season. How to replace Tottenham Son Heung-min (South Korea) They will surely dictate your fate during this period. The Spurs captain could easily be absent until mid-February.
western ham
With Lucas Paquetá injured, the loss of Mohammed Kudus (Ghana) It comes at a particularly bad time for David Moyes, whose team struggled for creativity in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw against Brighton. The absence of Nayef Aguerd (Morocco) It is another blow, although the defender has been linked with a January move to Roma, Milan and Saudi Arabia.
Wolves
Hwang Hee-chan (South Korea) has propelled Wolves to 11th place with 10 Premier League goals, more than Ollie Watkins and Alexander Isak. Boubacar Traoré (Mali) has primarily appeared off the bench for Gary O’Neil, but the departure of Rayan Aït-Nouri (Algeria) It is a hard blow: the left back left France last year. The under-21 player Justin Hubner (Indonesia) He has been selected in his country’s national team.
