The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is slated to run from January 13 to February 11. It will coincide with the Asian Cup which starts a day earlier on January 12 with the final scheduled on February 10. Each of the 20 Premier League clubs will miss out on plenty of players in the upcoming week. We look at each of the Premier League 2023-24 clubs to figure out who are worst hit?
Arsenal
Takehiro Tomiyasu (Japan) and Mohamed Elneny (Egypt) are the two players to miss out for Arsenal. Tomiyasu, who has been impressive this season, has been called for the Asian Cup while the Egyptian departs for AFCON. But the injured Thomas Partey has not made a cut to the Ghana squad.
Aston Villa
Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso) is the sole departure from the second-placed Aston Villa. It should not bother Villa as Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby can replace him in the line-up.
Bournemouth
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso) is set to travel to Ivory Coast after limping off in a defeat against Tottenham on Sunday. Antoine Semenyo (Ghana) has been influential force behind his nation qualifying to AFCON while Hamed Traore has been withdrawn from Ivory Coast squad as he is recovering from Malaria.
Brentford
The departure of Yoane Wissa (DR Congo) will be a big blow with Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo sidelined. Saman Ghoddos (Iran), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria) and Kim Ji-soo (South Korea) are the other players to miss out.
Brighton
Kaoru Mitoma (Japan) will be a crucial player for his country while his teammate Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast) admitted that “the rumours that Brighton are keeping me away from the Afcon are completely wrong”.
Burnley
Not to lose any player.
Chelsea
Nicolas Jackson is the sole player to depart.
Crystal Palace
Jordan Ayew (Ghana) will be joining the national team for his sixth AFCON appearance.
Everton
Idrissa Gueye (Senegal) will depart for national duty while Abdoulaye Doucoure (Mali) turned down the offer to join his squad as he wants to help Everton”s relegation fight.
Fulham
Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Alex Iwobi (Nigeria) and Fodé Ballo-Touré (Senegal) are the three players to depart.
Liverpool
Mohamed Salah”s (Egypt) departure will be a huge blow for Jurgen Klopp”s side while Wataru Endo (Japan) is set to leave for Asian Cup.
Luton
Issa Kaboré (Burkina Faso), on loan from Manchester City, is set to depart.
Manchester City
No international absentees and probably looking good to regain their top spot, well that”s what we think!
Manchester United
André Onana (Cameroon) and Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco) have left the squad to join their respective teams.
Newcastle
No players to depart
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest have the most — six players — set to depart from the squad. Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast), Ibrahim Sangare, Cheikhou Kouyaté (Senegal), Moussa Niakhaté (Senegal) and Ola Aina (Nigeria).
Sheffield United
Anis Ben Slimane (Tunisia) is the lone first-team regular to depart while Yasser Larouci (Algeria) will be a surprise inclusion in AFCON.
Tottenham
Pape Sarr (Senegal), Yves Bissouma (Mali) and Son Heung-min (South Korea) will depart for their respective squads. It will be interesting to see how Son is replaced in the squad.
West Ham
Mohammed Kudus” (Ghana) loss will be a big blow with Lucas Paqueta injured.
Wolves
Hwang Hee-chan (South Korea) will be the crucial player missing from the squad while Boubacar Traore (Mali) and Rayan Aït-Nouri (Algeria) are also set to leave the Wolves squad to test.
