ALBERT SAMBI LOKONGA is on the brink of leaving Arsenal for Burnley.
The Gunners want to clear out fringe players and are in talks for Lokonga – who was once dubbed the new Yaya Toure – to head to Turf Moor on a season-long loan, according to the Telegraph.
The 23-year-old joined the Gunners for around £17million from Anderlecht in 2021 after Aterta was ordered to sign him by Lokonga’s former manager Vincent Kompany.
Kompany told Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel FIVE how Lokonga resembles Manchester City sensation Yaya Toure.
He said: “The first thing I did when I saw Sambi is I went to Mikel and also Pep [Guardiola], but Mikel first and said, ‘You got to watch this guy, he’s the new Yaya Toure.’
“I’m not sure I’m doing him a favour saying this stuff. Look, you know what I like about Sambi, what Yaya did have, is, he wants the ball no matter what.
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“If the team is not doing well, give the ball to Sambi. Team doing well? Give the ball to Sambi. He will never hide away from his responsibilities.”
The Belgian international has failed to make a breakthrough in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI with only 39 appearances.
Now the midfielder has been hit by a minor injury and was scrapped from Arteta’s pre-season tour of the US.
After the club’s £170million splurge on midfielders Kai Havertz and Declan Rice, Lokonga has fallen down the pecking order.
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Arsenal are prioritising offloading players to cover their extravagant summer spree and with Lokonga not living up to the hype he has been named the one to go.
The midfielder spent the second half of last season at Crystal Palace, making nine appearances for Patrick Viera’s side.
A move to The Clarets however could see Lokonga reunite with his old Anderlecht boss Kompany.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
