Journalist predicts Albert Sambi Lokonga will soon join Arsenal

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Arsenal are in the market for at least one, possibly two midfielders this summer, with Anderlecht’s Albert Sambi Lokonga a top target.

Dani Ceballos has gone back to Real Madrid and Granit Xhaka may be on the move to Roma, so Arsenal need to find players to support Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny.

A big signing could arrive for an instant impact, but Arsenal also fancy Lokonga as a talent for the future.

Arsenal’s interest in Lokonga

Arsenal made their first move for Lokonga last week, with the Daily Mail claiming that a bid of around £13million was rejected.

Anderlecht allegedly wanted £18million for the 21-year-old midfielder, but there was ‘optimism’ that he would end up joining Arsenal.

La Derniere Heure in Belgium report that a deal is moving closer by the day, with Arsenal favourites to sign him ahead of other clubs.

Claes offers update on the situation

Belgian journalist Sven Claes has now spoken to The Football Terrace about Lokonga, offering Arsenal fans real hope of a deal.

Claes claims that the first bid was worth a total of €17million including bonuses. That works out to around £14.5million.

Claes added that Anderlecht want to have the initial fee bumped up to €15million, meaning Arsenal are just around £850,000 away from getting a deal done. That would take the total deal to €18million (£15.4million).

It was also claimed that Lokonga ‘really’ wants to join Arsenal and has even spoken to Mikel Arteta already, with Claes predicting that the deal ‘will happen’.

“They did a first bid last week of €14million plus €3million bonuses, and Anderlecht are still considering that,” said Claes. “I think the deal will happen, maybe in a few days, probably a week. Anderlecht has to decide; they want a bit more than the €14million starting bid. The bonuses are okay, but I think they want €15million.”

“He will probably be an Arsenal player. The player, he really wants to play there, and he also had some contact already with Arsenal, with the coach, so I think it will happen,” he added.