Afcon 2023: Milan wants Chukwueze to stay till January 3, Southampton ready to release Aribo

In January into the first part of February, the Africa Cup of Nations will take place and AC Milan are expected to lose two of their key performers. Two Milan players will be involved in the event: Ismael Bennacer and Samuel Chukwueze. Their two national teams, Algeria and Nigeria, are also among the favourites to win which could deprive Milan of the pair for an extended period.

According to what is being reported by Sky Italia Bennacer and Chukwueze will be available for the game against Sassuolo on the 30th, but immediately afterwards they are expected to leave to be available to their national teams.

However, he added an update: Milan have opened dialogues with the respective federations, to convince the national teams to let them leave Italy on 3 January, to have them available for Milan-Cagliari, the round of 16 final of the Coppa Italia, which will be played on the

day before.

Whether Algeria and Nigeria will accept the proposal is not yet known, but it must be pointed out that it is only the training camp that begins early in January, given that the first game involving either player isn’t until January 14.

Elsewhere, Southampton will not prevent Joe Aribo from playing at next month's Africa Cup of Nations if selected.

Aribo is a regular fixture for Nigeria and has been named in Jose Peseiro's provisional squad for the tournament, which gets underway on January 13.

The 23-time international has started the last five games and scored his first goal of the campaign in Southampton's 5-0 thrashing of Swansea City on Boxing Day.

If selected, Aribo could miss up to five games. Asked by the Daily Echo about Aribo potentially heading to the tournament, Martin said: "Joe is incredibly proud to play for Nigeria.

 

"We can't stop anyone (from playing at AFCON). You want them to go there fit and come back fit.

"Joe needs to keep playing how he has been playing and I'm sure he will get into their squad.

"He has been a mainstay in their squad for quite a while. They go with everyone's best wishes - you want them to do well.

"Hopefully they stay injury-free, that's the biggest thing. Joe has got incredible pride (for Nigeria).

"Every time he goes away a different member of staff asks him to bring one of his shirts back.

"I've asked him for his AFCON shirt for my son so he needs to get into the squad so he can bring a shirt back for him," Martin joked.

Nigeria have been drawn in Group A alongside Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and tournament hosts Ivory Coast.

The Super Eagles are among the favourites to win the tournament, in large part due to their long list of formidable forwards - including Napoli's Victor Osimhen.

Also selected in their provisional squad list are former Saints winger Nathan Tella and loaned-out forward Paul Onuachu.