Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga is willing to snub interest from Serie A champions AC Milan in a potential summer transfer to be a success under Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.
Albert Sambi Lokonga ready to snub AC Milan interest to be a success at Arsenal
According to football.london, Albert Sambi Lokonga is willing to overlook interest from AC Milan to stay at Arsenal. The Belgian is determined to see his spell at the Emirates Stadium be a success, and is currently only focused on forcing a way back into Mikel Arteta’s squad.
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Arsenal only signed Lokonga from RSC Anderlecht in a £17m deal last July with the view of him being one for the future. Yet he featured 19 times during the last Premier League term, alongside four Carabao Cup outings and a starting role in the Gunners’ sole FA Cup fixture.
A return to the Europa League this season will now afford Lokonga further games to get on the pitch. He is also set to feature heavily through the early EFL Cup ties, having impressed Arteta and the Spaniard’s assistants in pre-season while featuring in a more advanced role.
Lokonga is now intent on securing a regular presence in the Arsenal engine room, even if it means rejecting interest from AC Milan. The Scudetto holders have emerged as a potential destination for the 22-year-old, as Stefano Pioli looks to improve his San Siro midfield core.
Stefano Pioli wants Albert Sambi Lokonga in permanent summer switch
Reports by TuttoMercatoWEB earlier this week cited AC Milan’s interest in signing Lokonga from Arsenal. The Italian publication also noted Pioli hopes to agree a permanent move for the one-cap Belgium international. San Siro chiefs are also in contact with Lokonga’s agent.
But the Rossoneri will have to look elsewhere to strengthen their engine room over the final weeks of the window, it seems. Lokonga will also hope his determination to be a success at Arsenal sees Arteta afford him greater chances than stoppage-time minutes off the bench.
Lokonga only entered the action for captain Martin Odegaard as a 93rd-minute substitute at Crystal Palace last Friday. He additionally only made six of his 19 Premier League outings last season after New Years’ Day – spending the other 13 matches as an unused substitute.
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