Newly promoted Burnley are reportedly in talks with Arsenal over a season-long loan for Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The Belgium midfielder, 23, spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace, and the Gunners after strengthening their midfield unit with the signings of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz in the summer, are ready to let him go again. Now that the north London club have added better players in the middle of the park, another loan move could be on the cards for the 23-year-old, or even a permanent sale.
According to The Telegraph, Vincent Kompany is interested in reuniting with Albert Sambi Lokonga at Burnley.
Kompany worked with Lokonga at his previous club Anderlecht and the pair seemingly share a good relationship. While several teams are considering a move for Lokonga, the report adds Burnley are currently the frontrunners for his signature with Kompany driving the interest for his compatriot.
Albert Sambi Lokonga to Burnley—Good choice for Vincent Kompany?
It has been a very busy summer in the transfer market for the newly-promoted Burnley, signing as many as nine players so far. James Trafford, Jordan Beyer, Zeki Amdouni, Nathan Redmond, Michael Obafemi, Luca Koleosho and Lawrence Vigouroux have joined the club permanently, while Jacob Bruun Larsen is a loan arrival from Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim.
Yet, Vincent Kompany is in no mood of stopping and has now set his sights on signing a new central midfielder. And the Clarets boss is keen to add Albert Sambi Lokonga on loan from Arsenal.
Since joining Arsenal from Anderlecht in an £18million deal in the summer of 2021, Lokonga has struggled to make an impact and fell out of favour under Mikel Arteta last season, spending the second half of 2022/23 on loan at Crystal Palace. Unfortunately, the one-cap Belgium international did not get enough opportunities at Crystal Palace following Roy Hodgson’s return, and as a result, the Eagles did not turn his loan deal permanent.
Despite his struggles in England, Burnley seem eager to give Lokonga a fresh chance to prove himself in the top flight and potentially revive his stuttering career. Kompany knows Lokonga in and out having managed him at Anderlecht, so he would be keen to help the get back to his best.
Lokonga was highly regarded as one of the best young talents during his time with Anderlecht in Belgium, and a move away from Arsenal could give him the opportunity to regain that confidence and form. The 23-year-old, capable of operating as a No.6 or No.8, would improve Kompany’s midfield options at Turf Moor.
With the summer arrivals of Rice and Havertz not doing any favours to his first-team prospects at Arsenal, the opportunity to play under Kompany again can be hard to turn down and it would be an interesting option for Lokonga.