The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2022 is going down in Cameroon on January 8. A slew of Premier League players will be representing their countries in the month-long competition.
The likes of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Edouard Mendy, and Naby Keita are all present. They will take a vacation from the gruelling Premier League and Champions League battles.
While some Premier League managers, such as Jurgen Klopp, have expressed their displeasure at the loss of some of their best players, others will use the tournament as an opportunity to shape their future transfer strategies.
It is likely that a number of top players may emerge from the tournament with attention from other clubs if they manage to make an impression on the international scene.
Mirror Football looks at seven players who could be of interest to clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Franck Kessie
Franck Kessie will feature in AFCON 2022. Photo/Football Italia
During the last 12 months, Franck Kessie, the star midfielder for AC Milan, has been linked with a move to Premier League clubs on numerous occasions.
He has been a star for Milan in Serie A for the past couple of years. But he could be on his way out of the club sooner rather than later – some reports suggest.
Having reached the final few months of his current contract at the San Siro, Kessie will be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with any international club starting on New Year’s Day.
The tremendous interest exhibited in Kessie by both Manchester United and Liverpool in recent months suggests that two of the Premier League’s heavyweights will be keeping a close eye on the youngster during AFCON 2022.
Tottenham is also interested in the 25-year-old.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Another player who is likely to be of interest to Premier League scouts is Kalidou Koulibaly of Napoli. He was previously linked with a move to the Premier League. The Senegal international will play for his country in a friendly against Cameroon in a fortnight’s time.
With his contract at Napoli coming to an end in the next 18 months, the 30-year-old could be available for transfer if the right offer comes up.
Arsenal and Chelsea are both interested in signing the centre half, who has previously been linked with moves to Manchester United and Real Madrid, among others.
The Blues appear to be on the verge of losing Antonio Rudiger to Real Madrid when the German international becomes a free agent this summer.
Amadou Haidara
Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Amadou Haidara.
Haidara, who has been in outstanding form for RB Leipzig this season, might be the man to fill that void.
The 23-year-old is expected to play a key role for Mali at the AFCON 2022 this month.
Depending on how well he performs in the tournament, Haidara might move ahead of players such as Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham on Manchester United’s wishlist when the club finally makes a move to fill their midfield vacancy next summer.
Emmanuel Dennis
The arrival of Emmanuel Dennis at Watford in the summer did little to raise the temperature of the Premier League.
However, the Nigerian sensation has made an impressive start to life in England, emerging as one of the Premier League’s most promising acquisitions thus far this season. And AFCON 2022 could be the deal-breaker in his career.
Despite the fact that the move to bring Dennis to Vicarage Road went unnoticed at the time, the 24-year-time old’s in Hertfordshire has already proven to be brief. He has scored eight goals in just 16 Premier League outings during his time at the club.
Dennis’ agent claimed earlier this month that both Manchester United and Arsenal were interested in signing the striker in the past – only for his old club, Club Brugge, to put a price on a deal with the Premier League duo.
Given Dennis’ remarkable start to life in England, it wouldn’t be surprising to see either of them rekindle their interest in the situation. Additionally, his performances for the Super Eagles on the international stage would only increase the likelihood of one of the Premier League’s big boys making a summer transfer move for Watford’s unlikely talisman.
Ismaila Sarr
Ismaila Sarr, Watford’s wing-wizard, is no stranger to any of the Premier League’s heavyweights, having played for them previously.
Sarr established himself as Watford’s most valuable player since joining the club from Rennes in a club-record move in 2011.
Previously, both Liverpool and Manchester United expressed an interest in the Hornets’ speedster. But the club has not made a formal commitment to pursue him with a specific proposal for the Hornets to consider.
Sarr, who has scored five goals in 12 league games so far this season, is now out with a knee ligament injury but will feature in AFCON 2022 matches in Cameroon.
With the long-term prospects of Liverpool’s first-choice attacking contingent still up in the air, the Reds may opt to finally make a move for Sarr if he can demonstrate his talents on the international scene in the coming month.
Samuel Chukwueze
Villarreal’s promising young Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze is sure to be one of the most closely followed players during the AFCON 2022 event.
Since graduating from the club’s youth academy, the 22-year-old winger has been a standout performer in La Liga for the Spanish club.
Samuel Chukwueze. Photo/Daily Mail
Chukwueze, has scored five goals in 16 appearances for Villarreal this season. has A number of clubs, including Manchester United and Liverpool, have in the past thought about him.
However, a strong showing by Chukwueze in the tournament might put Liverpool’s quest for striking reinforcements under scrutiny ahead of next summer’s transfer window.
If the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United decide that Chukwueze isn’t ready for a big-money move just yet, it’s not out of the question that another Premier League team may be lured into making a play for the Villarreal attacker.
Sebastien Haller
Having joined the Hammers for a reputed club-record sum of £45million, the 27-year-old has been in sensational form for the Dutch giants since his arrival. Haller has scored seven goals in as many games for the club since his arrival.
Having scored 22 goals in just 24 appearances for Ajax this season, Haller might put himself back on the radar of Premier League clubs if he performs well in AFCON 2022.
A number of big Premier League clubs are expected to be in the market for a new forward in the coming summer, so it is not out of the question that Haller returns to the country as quickly as possible.
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