Manager who Crystal Palace now want to replace Vieira could help them sign Lokonga – Our View

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Crystal Palace are now interested in bringing Vincent Kompany to Selhurst Park after deciding to sack Patrick Vieira.

It was the Guardian who revealed that the south Londoners are keen to appoint the Belgian – Michael Carrick is another option for the Eagles.

If Kompany does swap Burnley for Crystal Palace, it would surely boost the chances of Albert Sambi Lokonga completing a permanent move to SE25.

What Crystal Palace target Kompany said about Lokonga

Well, the Belgium international has impressed at Crystal Palace since joining on loan from Arsenal in January.

A permanent exit seems possible with The Times claiming that Arsenal could look to sell the 23-year-old this summer in order to balance their books.

Therefore, Crystal Palace are already in a decent position to sign Lokonga permanently, and their chances of doing so would increase significantly if they hired Kompany, who worked with the midfield maestro at Anderlecht.

The £15m Arsenal man made 39 appearances under Kompany in Belgium, scoring three goals while also providing three assists as he made a name for himself as one of the most exciting young midfielders in Europe.

Interestingly, the 36-year-old even likened Lokonga to Yaya Toure.

Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe with Five YouTube channel, Kompany said: “I was watching football from different countries, different places, and I saw Sambi play his first game – his first two games – then he got an injury to his knee.

“The first thing I did when I saw Sambi is I went to Mikel, also Pep, and said you’ve got to watch this guy, he’s the new Yaya Toure. What I like with Sambi – and it’s rare in football, what Yaya did have – is he wants the ball no matter what.

“If the teams not doing well, give the ball to Sambi. If the team’s doing well, give the ball to Sambi. He will never hide away from his responsibility. For me, that’s what Sambi has that makes him special.”

Clearly, Kompany is a huge fan of Lokonga, and the on-loan Crystal Palace No.8 played some of the best football of his career so far under him in Belgium.

Therefore, we feel the chances of a permanent move to Selhurst Park for Lokonga this summer would be very high if Kompany decides to take over from Vieira.