Vincent Kompany explains if he plans to sign £16m ‘great talent’ from Arsenal

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Vincent Kompany believes Albert Sambi Lokonga is a ‘great talent’ but plays down suggestions that the Arsenal midfielder could join Premier League newcomers Burnley during the summer transfer window.

Shortly after joining Crystal Palace on loan nearly three months ago, Lokonga admitted to RTBF that the opportunity to work alongside Patrick Vieira – a Gunners legend and one of the finest footballers of his generation – was ‘very decisive in my position’.

But Lokonga just can’t catch a break right now. Only a few weeks after arriving at Selhurst Park, Vieira was shown the door. What’s more, Vieira’s Crystal Palace replacement – 75-year-old Roy Hodgson – has handed the Gunners loanee just five minutes of action during a fabulous and unexpected run of three straight top-flight wins.

Arsenal may have hoped to see Lokonga make his mark in South London; raising his market value before being sold on in the summer. His future, however, now looks more uncertain than ever, Crystal Palace seemingly unlikely to tie the 23-year-old down to a permanent transfer.

Could Albert Sambi Lokonga reunite with Vincent Kompany at Burnley?

Lokonga captained Anderlecht under Kompany before joining Arsenal nearly two years ago. And while the Manchester City legend remains a big fan of the £16 million midfielder, he was quick to dismiss reports that Burnley could come to Lokonga’s rescue during the off-season.

“I’m going to keep it very simple,” Kompany tells the Café Kompany podcast, quotes provided by Voetbal Primeur.

“I always follow every player with a past at Anderlecht. I just try to see how they evolve. Lokonga? He was financially very important for Anderlecht in that period.

“The fact that I’m talking about him now doesn’t mean anything about a transfer for next season. He had a serious injury and is still a great talent. He really came back strong from that injury.”

Burnley secured promotion out of the Championship at the first time of asking earlier this month. The Clarets are looking to bring in a new number one while potentially turning loanees Jordan Beyer and Nathan Tella into permanent additions.

Kompany’s own future remains up in the air, meanwhile. Tottenham Hotspur see the 37-year-old as one of the leading candidates to take Antonio Conte’s place in North London.