The Premier League, unlike before, has a lot of players from Asia and Africa. The league adjusts its schedules according to the European Championships. But now that many important players like Mohamed Salah and Son Heung Min are leaving, FPL managers could have a tough time adjusting their squad. This article will show you how the AFCON and AFC Asian Cup could affect the managers. The main question is- who do we buy for Salah and Son for the upcoming gameweek?

Gameweek 21 of the English Premier League starts on January 13 and will coincide with both tournaments. But there are a few more considerations to make apart from just the missing players.

Duration

The AFCON and AFC Asian Cup start on the 13th and 12th of January 2024 respectively, pretty similar to the Premier League’s game week 21. The group stages will end on the 24th and 25th of January, respectively. So, all who are set to travel will miss the Gameweek 21 unless they are excluded from their national squads.

However, the impact may last until Gameweek 24 (from February 10th to February 12th, 2024) for the players who reach the knockouts of these tournaments. The AFCON final will be played on the 11th of February, and the AFC Asian Cup on the 10th. So, the decision for an FPL manager to transfer players would need an estimation of their team’s progress in these tournaments.

Players unavailable for selection

Arsenal: Takehiro Tomiyasu (Japan) and Mohamed Elneny (Egypt). According to reports, Thomas Partey is still recovering from a hamstring injury. If deemed fit, he will miss club action too.

Aston Villa: Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)

Bournemouth: Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso)

Brentford: Yoane Wissa (Congo), Ji-Soo Kim (South Korea), Saman Ghoddos (Iran), and Frank Onyeka (Nigeria).

Brighton: Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast) – injury doubt, Kaoru Mitoma (Japan) – injury doubt. Tariq Lamptey (Ghana)

Burnley: NA

Chelsea: Nicolas Jackson (Senegal)

Crystal Palace: Jordan Ayew (Ghana)

Everton: Idrissa Gana Gueye (Senegal)

Fulham: Fode-Ballo Toure (Senegal), Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), and Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)

Liverpool: Wataru Endo (Japan) and Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

Luton: Issa Kabore (Burkina Faso)

Manchester City: NA

Manchester United: Andre Onana (Cameroon), Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco), and Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)

Newcastle: NA

Nottingham Forest: Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast), Ibrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast), Cheikou Kouyate (Senegal), Moussa Niakhate (Senegal), and Ola Aina (Nigeria).

Sheffield United: Anis Ben Slimane (Tunisia) and Yasser Larouci (Algeria)

Tottenham Hotspur: Pape Sarr (Senegal), Son Heung Min (South Korea), Yves Bissouma (Mali)

West Ham United: Nayef Aguerd (Morocco) and Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Hee-Chan Hwang (South Korea), Rayan Ait-Nouri (Algeria), Boubacar Traore (Mali), and Justin Hubner (Indonesia)

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Transfers

Apart from your premiums missing the game, the limit on transfers will prove to be a headache for FPL managers who have many such players in the squad. A free hit could have been handy for a single Gameweek, but many of them could miss multiple Gameweeks, requiring multiple transfers.

Possible replacements for Son Heung Min and Mohamed Salah for Gameweek 21

Both Mohamed Salah and Son Heung Min have been goldmines for almost every active FPL team. The top two scorers of FPL are selected by 48.8% and 39.9% of the managers. The players who can replace them, according to EssentiallySports, are:

1. Cole Palmer, Chelsea (£5.6m), GW 21 vs Fulham (H)
2. Douglas Luiz, Aston Villa (£5.5m), GW 21 vs Everton (A)
3. Moussa Diaby, Aston Villa (£6.6m) GW 21 vs Everton (A)
4. Jarrod Bowen, West Ham United (£8.0m), GW 21 vs Sheffield United (A)
5. Diogo Jota, Liverpool (£7.7m), GW 21 vs Bournemouth (A)
6. Phil Foden, Manchester City (£7.8), GW 21 vs Newcastle United (A)

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