The first set of Arsenal players have reported back to pre-season ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, including Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The 23-year-old was loaned-out by Arsenal and Mikel Arteta last season, as he spent six-months at Crystal Palace following his move during the January transfer window.
But now Albert Sambi Lokonga is back in the colours of his parent club and he posted on Instagram ‘back in’, with an image of the player in training.
Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze, who played alongside the Belgian last season, posted in the comments section ‘My boy’.
But for how long will Lokonga remain in Arsenal colours, with Arteta looking to push for the Premier League title again after slipping up last season?
Arsenal looking to sell Lokonga
When Arsenal secured Lokonga’s talents back in 2021, there was a lot of hype and expectation around his signing.
But fast forward to the present and it just hasn’t worked out for the midfielder, who didn’t even really light it up during his brief spell at Palace.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that Arsenal are looking to sell him to Burnley this summer, who are managed by his former Anderlecht coach, Vincent Kompany.
Lokonga should move on
Yes, Granit Xhaka is heading for the exit door this summer and there are also question marks over Thomas Partey’s future, but that still doesn’t increase Lokonga’s chances of starting and playing more next season.
Declan Rice is about to arrive for a British-record transfer fee, after the signing of Kai Havertz, but it doesn’t seem as though the London side will stop there.
There is talk around Romeo Lavia, so you would imagine if all those three players are at the Emirates next season, then they are ahead of Lokonga, so if his former manager at Turf Moor does come knocking, then he is better off accepting what is put on the table.
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