In one of the least surprising transfer stories of the summer so far, Albert Sambi Lokonga has been linked with a move to newly promoted Burnley.
The Clarets are managed by Vincent Kompany, whose previous job was at Anderlecht, from whom we signed the midfielder in the summer of 2021.
That link between player and manager could well be driving the rumour-mill, but the Belgian press report this morning that Burnley are interested in a loan move with an option to make the deal permanent.
Lokonga struggled for playing time last season, garnering just 196 minutes in the Premier League for Arsenal, and although he initially featured for Crystal Palace after his loan spell there, he barely got a look in after Patrick Vieira was replaced by Roy Hodgson.
With the Gunners eyeing high profile midfield recruits, as well as having Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka (for now), Jorginho, Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira and Mohamed Elneny vying for various central midfield roles, his pathway to first team football in North London appears a difficult one.
A move elsewhere, even on loan, would make sense for a player who has a contract until 2026. Arsenal are protected in that sense, and a good season would ensure his value increases on the market.
One to keep an eye on.
Chuck in a £4m loan fee with a £20m option and I’m keen.
His stock is up a little since his Crystal Palace loan spell but no one’s likely to give us our money back yet.
I still think there’s a player in there. But he came to Arsenal with the wrong attitude and ultimately it’s cost him.
Yep, agree.
Very much a ‘going for top four’ rather than a ‘going for the title’ player.
We’ve moved up to the next level now and our squad players have to reflect that.
Is he as good as ESR, or Jorginho or Trossard? The answer clearly is no and it’s time to thank him and part Kompany. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist that one)
No way would we get a £4m loan fee. I don’t think they’d agree to those figures at this point, so I’d rather not include an option to buy (because I don’t think anyone would agree to a decent amount for the option).
I think, when staying in the premier league is a multi, multi million pound business, that Kompany would part with a measly 4 mil for a player he adores and may wish to build his team around.
But then I’m an eternal optimist. I still think Biereth might come good and partner Moller up front in the Arsenal first XI.
We all had high hopes for Stewart Robson…..look what happened there….. It’s like one moment he was ‘The Future Captain of England’ and then suddenly he wasn’t around. I can’t even remember if it was Din Howe or George who got rid of him. A weird bloke in so many ways. Public School educated and supporting West Ham must be a first ever in the history of the human race. And I have NEVER known an ex player to slag us off with such relish. More than Pennant, Bentley, RVP and super cunts Cashley and Dickov put together. Not sure… Read more »
Think Robson supposedly fell out with Arsene. He was working at matches and I think doing co-comm on some games. I remember reading he got fired, and was all over the radio and newspapers within a few days saying Arsene didn’t know what he was doing and should be fired. A cunt of the highest order. I remember him playing in the original green and blue kit, he was the next big thing. I think he started out at right back and done well there before he moved in to midfield.
I absolutely loved that Blue Bottle kit. The trouble was, we very rarely played well in it.
I do remember, however, a lovely Graham Rix long range goal up at Middlesbrough in the early FA Cup rounds (4th? 5th?) That left foot was magical.
Rixy used to wear long sleeves no matter what the weather and the scruffy bugger also used to have his shirt outside his shorts, when most of the other lads had them regimentally tucked in. Hoddle was the same at Tottenham.
But 🎵 we all agreed that Rixy was better than Hoddle…..🎵 😂
Always pissed me off the abuse Ashley got from us for switching to Chelsea, an academy player who loved our club who played 227 games for us won 2 PL titles, a member of the Invincibles, 3 times FA cup winner, a CL finalist, an England international..all because he asked for a salary on par with the other star players in our team which he obviously was one, David Dein’s biggest fuck up, instead of rewarding him the £££s he deserved he offered him a lot less on his new contract that he promised him, Arsene Wenger should also be… Read more »
*Don Howe. ‘Din Howe’ 😂 Poor dear old Don, rest his soul, couldn’t have made a din if he’d tried.
I think his stock is even lower since his Palace loan spell, he barely played and did not impress in the slightest.
Given the massive improvement in Nathan Tella during his loan spell at Burnley it would appear to be win win for all concerned. With Albert already being familiar with VK’s methodology and playing style, he could quite easily emulate Nathan. Here’s hoping 🙏🏼
I think he plays like Tielemans and that is too slow in our tactical set up. Very good passer and good and moving forward with the ball, but very poor positionally and slow to cover in defensive transitions. I don’t see him breaking into this team at any time so even a loan, just to cover wages seems like thebest option until he inevitably runs his contract down.
Broadly agree on the player assessment of Sambi. Many of us who really wanted Tielemans in last summer are turning our noses up at a free transfer this summer. Aside from the impression that he has had a poor season with LCFC I think it is obvious that the standards keep getting elevated at Arsenal. If we are to keep up with C*ty only top level players can come in.
As for running his contract down, I think that’s very unlikely. Remember how despondent he was at lack of playing time? The boy wants to play!
this would make a lot of sense, however he really has to perform well if we’re going to see any return on investment or decide to keep him in the squad. The biggest concern I have over Sambi is not of is ability but of his mentality. Similar to Maitland-Niles in that regard.
how would you know that, just an assumption based on the fact hes not english
Based on the moaning to the press and video evidence of him whinging in the All Or Nothing documentary.
Quite why you said that I’m not sure, given I also called out an English player for his mentality in the same post.
Who else had a feeling this was gonna happen?
Pls you can only buy no more loan shitty stuffs
Agreed, we should sell and reinvest.
He’s a decent player, who needs game time to develop, but I’m pretty sure from what we’ve seen so far that he’ll never be up to the new level of The Arsenal.
Good luck to him.