Albert Sambi Lokonga is currently out on loan to Luton Town but as per the reports, the midfielder might still have a future at Arsenal.
Arsenal had paid around £15 million to sign him from Anderlecht in 2021 but since then, Lokonga has done very little to impress Mikel Arteta. He’s featured in just 39 games for Arsenal which is why the Gunners had tried to offload him in the summer.
However, a permanent exit could not be secured which is why he was loaned out to Luton Town but his performances at the club seem to be turning a few heads at Arsenal.
As per Fabrizio Romano, the North London side still wishes to get rid of Albert Sambi Lokonga so they can balance their books but Mikel Arteta and his team are keeping the door open for a potential return to the squad.
His contract expires in 2026 and his current market value is only €12 million so it’s not that Arsenal will bag a huge transfer fee by selling the central midfielder.
The Gunners will look to get rid of both Thomas Partey and Jorginho at the end of this season, so they will have to bring in adequate replacements. While Lokonga certainly cannot fill Partey’s boots, the 24-year-old can very easily act as the backup option.
This season, Lokonga has started seven Premier League games for Luton and has a rating of 6.96/10. In the first few months, the midfielder was mostly warming the benches but in recent weeks, he’s moved up the pecking order. He was an influential figure during Luton’s 4-0 win over Brighton this week.
Once Partey leaves, Arteta will have to bring in someone world-class to replace him but if Lokonga is really to play second-fiddle he can have a second life at the Emirates Stadium.
However, Arsenal could not sign any new players in January owing to their big spending last summer so they have to prioritise selling several unwanted players at the end of this campaign.
