Albert Sambi Lokonga Poised for Arsenal Exit
Albert Sambi Lokonga’s future at Arsenal appears uncertain as manager Mikel Arteta may not have him in his plans for the upcoming season.
Fabrizio Romano, speaking on Caught Offside, suggests that Arsenal could entertain the idea of either loaning Lokonga out or selling him permanently in the summer transfer window.
Despite Lokonga’s promising start since joining from Anderlecht, his recent loan spells at Crystal Palace and Luton Town haven’t been enough to convince Arteta of his place in the squad.
However, Lokonga has shown resilience and improvement, particularly during his stint at Luton Town, where he performed well despite the club’s relegation from the Premier League.
With Arsenal looking to offload several players, Lokonga’s name has emerged as one of the potential departures. While Arsenal made a significant investment in acquiring him, they may seek to recoup their investment or enhance his market value through another loan spell elsewhere.
Romano suggests that Lokonga himself has hinted at his imminent departure from Arsenal, indicating that he doesn’t expect to stay at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal’s openness to loan or permanent deals will likely depend on the offers they receive and Lokonga’s preferences. However, regardless of the arrangement, Lokonga seems destined for another move away from Arsenal in the upcoming window.
Arsenal’s priority in the transfer market appears to be securing a new midfielder, with names like Bruno Guimaraes and Frenkie De Jong linked with potential moves to the club.
Arteta aims to bolster the midfield, either with a defensive-minded player or a box-to-box midfielder, rendering Lokonga’s presence surplus to requirements.
In light of these developments, it seems mutually beneficial for Lokonga and Arsenal to part ways in the summer, allowing the Belgian midfielder to seek opportunities elsewhere while Arsenal focuses on reinforcing their squad in the midfield area.
