The prospect of Albert Sambi Lokonga leaving Arsenal is growing a little more realistic.
The Belgium international has only had one season at the Emirates Stadium after joining from Anderlecht last summer.
But speculation is growing that Arsenal are willing to sell the midfielder to AC Milan before September [TWM] – and both clubs are in talks.
And if it materialises, it could wind up embarrassing the Gunners, for two reasons.
Firstly, Lokonga has shown enough in the Premier League to suggest that he could, in the near future, be one hell of an asset for the North Londoners.
Okay so he had a few rough encounters last season and ultimately struggled for regular football.
But it’s worth pointing out that the lad is still only 22 and what a horrible look it would be for Arsenal if he does indeed develop into a quality midfielder at AC Milan.
If they do sell him to Italy, the Gunners will make a loss on their original £18 million investment.
However, it would also be embarrassing because it would indicate that Arteta and Edu aren’t as confident in their transfer approach as has been suggested.
Lokonga and Nuno Tavares were the first players through the door at London Colney last summer and with the latter already having left on loan to Marseille, it wouldn’t reflect brilliantly on the club if another player is being scrapped after only one season.
They only cost a combined £25 million, but that isn’t the point.
The point is that how can Arteta or Edu convince future targets to join Arsenal if Tavares and Lokonga are examples of how the club give up on youngsters after a disappointing first season at the Emirates?
For all the talk of Arteta having a clear and defined transfer strategy in North London, selling Lokonga to Milan – the Serie A champions – might go against that theory to some extent.
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