Arsenal’s £15m Albert Lokonga reacts when asked if he will join Burnley

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Arsenal’s Crystal Palace loanee Albert Sambi Lokonga admits he would like to work with Vincent Kompany again in the future but cannot imagine a summer switch to Premier League-chasing Burnley, speaking to RTBF. 

It seems a little churlish to keep referring to Burnley as a ‘Championship club’.

Barring a collapse that even Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United would struggle to pull off, The Clarets will be gracing the top-flight with their pretty passing next term; 19 points clear of third-place Middlesbrough following Saturday’s 4-0 thumping of Huddersfield Town. 

Kompany, enjoying his first managerial role in English football, has transformed Burnley into a team capable of outplaying almost anyone. Only Swansea City average more possession per game, while no one in the Championship has scored more goals.  

You can certainly tell that Kompany served his coaching apprenticeship under Man City mentor Pep Guardiola.

Crystal Palace loanee Albert Sambi Lokonga could leave Arsenal

Lokonga, who captained Kompany’s Anderlecht side, is delighted to see his former boss go from strength to strength. 

“I would like to (work with) him again one day. He is someone who is made for the top level. One day, I may find him again,” Lokonga says.

When pressed on whether the 23-year-old would be tempted by a summer switch to Turf Moor, however, the Belgium international rowed back a little.

“At Burnley next season in the Premier League?” Lokonga laughs. “I don’t think so.”

Interestingly, Lokonga – who is now impressing on loan at Crystal Palace – was on Kompany’s radar even before he took the reigns at Anderlecht back in 2019.

“I was watching football from different countries, different places,” Kompany recalls (Vibe with Five). “And I saw Sambi play his first game – his first two games. 

“The first thing I did when I saw Sambi is I went to Mikel (Arteta) and said; ‘You’ve got to watch this guy. He is the new Yaya Toure’.” 

Arsenal, according to The Times, are ‘likely to offload’ Lokonga this summer in order to raise funds for new arrivals. Time will tell how much of their £15 million investment The Gunners can recoup.