Anderlecht captain Albert Sambi Lokonga has already decided that he will wear his favoured number 48 shirt at Premier League giants Arsenal, as reported by Het Belang Van Limburg.
The Gunners have a history when it comes to handing out some rather strange shirt numbers.
The thought of William Gallas inheriting the number ten from the legendary Denis Bergkamp still brings the purists out in a nasty case of nausea. The game’s gone, and all that.
But there is a good reason why Lokonga will be unveiled at Arsenal with 48 on his back; a shirt usually donned by a baby-faced reserve in a forgettable EFL Cup tie rather than by a marquee £15 million signing.
According to HBVL, Lokonga’s favourite number is a reference to the postcode of his hometown, the cobbled streets and grey stone of Verviers.
Footballers are a superstitious sort too, and perhaps the 21-year-old believes that a number he has worn throughout his time in Anderlecht’s feted finishing school will bring him good luck as he prepares to follow in the footsteps of Romelu Lukaku, Leander Dendoncker and co in the Premier League.
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The report adds that Lokonga has already agreed a five-year contract in North London, having undergone medical tests last Friday.
It is believed that the upcoming friendly clash with Scottish champions Rangers may come too soon for Lokonga, however, even if the midfielder has begun his period of quarantine ahead of a long-awaited unveiling at the Emirates.
Arsenal have already completed the signing of Benfica left-back Nuno Tavares this summer, while talks are underway to bring in Wolves play-maker Ruben Neves (the Sun).
A deal for Real Betis enforcer Guido Rodriguez appears to have been placed on the backburner, however, with the La Liga club’s president insisting that the Argentine international is going nowhere this summer.
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