Arsenal decides to let go of young midfielder to create space for Declan Rice

Arsenal’s 23-year-old midfielder, Albert Sambi Lokonga, is reportedly set to leave the club after spending the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace. According to a report by The Guardian, newly-promoted Burnley, who are coached by Lokonga’s former boss at Anderlecht, Vincent Kompany, are tracking him closely.

Lokonga joined Arsenal from Anderlecht in July 2021 for a fee of around £17 million. However, he struggled to establish himself in the first team and was sent out on loan to Crystal Palace in January 2023.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 18: Sambi of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 18, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Now, it seems that Lokonga could be on his way out of Arsenal permanently as the club prepares space for Declan Rice and other probable midfield signings. Burnley are said to be interested in signing the midfielder and have been monitoring his progress closely. Kompany knows Lokonga well from their time together at Anderlecht and is believed to be keen on bringing him to Turf Moor.

Lokonga is a talented midfielder who has shown plenty of potential during his short career so far. He is comfortable on the ball and has an eye for a pass, making him an ideal player for teams who like to play possession-based football.

If he does leave Arsenal this summer, it will be interesting to see how he fares at Burnley under Kompany’s guidance. The Clarets have a reputation for playing direct football, but Kompany has spoken about his desire to implement a more possession-based style of play at Turf Moor.

Lokonga could be just the player they need to help them achieve that goal. He has already shown that he can adapt to different styles of play during his time at Anderlecht and Crystal Palace, so there’s no reason why he couldn’t do the same at Burnley.

Overall, it seems that Lokonga’s future lies away from Arsenal. Whether he ends up at Burnley or another club remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that he has the potential to become a top-class midfielder in the years to come.