Burnley are in talks to sign midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga from Arsenal according to a report in The Evening Standard.
The Gunners had paid €17.5 million for the midfielder in 2021 but the former Anderlecht man has failed to impress Mikel Arteta during his two years at the club.
So far, he’s played in only 39 games for Arsenal across all competitions and he spent the second half of the previous season out on loan with Crystal Palace. Arteta had sent him to Selhurst Park hoping that he will get some game time and experience but Lokonga managed only nine appearances for the Eagles.
Arsenal brought in Jorginho from Chelsea in January and this summer, they have signed Declan Rice from West Ham United so Mikel Arteta has no use of Albert Sambi Lokonga. If they had been playing in the Europa League then a player like him would still have gotten to start several group games but next season, the Gunners are back in the Champions League and there’s no way Lokonga will get on Tuesday or Thursday nights.
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has previously worked with Lokonga at Anderlecht which is why he thinks signing him will be a safer option instead of spending money on an unknown talent.
Currently, Burnley are in talks for a season-long loan deal with a possible option-to-buy clause next summer. Arsenal should not have any issues in letting the 23-year-old leave but they will want to add an obligation to buy clause.
His current market value is €15 million and his contract with the Gunners expires in 2026 so Arsenal are in no hurry to offload him. However, if Burnley are ready to pay around €10-12 million for Lokonga next summer then the Gunners will have no issue in letting him go.
The midfielder is also keen to head out of the Emirates Stadium because recently, his representatives had offered him to Roma because the Serie A giants are looking for a new midfielder.
That move somehow did not materialise and it now looks like Burnley are the ones who will bring Lokonga on board. Kompany’s side have spent close to €66 million this summer but they are yet to add a new midfielder to their squad.
At Arsenal, Lokonga was overshadowed by players like Partey and Granit Xhaka but if he does join Burnley, the midfielder will feel a lot more at home and because he already knows Vincent Kompany, the 23-year-old won’t take too much time settling down.
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