Arsenal have €15m Albert Lokonga bid rejected by Anderlecht

Arsenal Will Return With Second Albert Sambi Lokonga Bid

Arsenal look to be in pole position to sign Lokonga and after years of tracking the player there is a strong feeling that they will not let this one slip, especially with a small margin between ‘more than €15m’ and Anderlecht’s €20m asking price. If they want the player they should be able to sign him.

Scouts who’ve been monitoring his progress see him as an ‘ideal reinforcement’ to inject life and energy into a stale area of the pitch. Lokonga is dynamic, technically astute, and a strong progressor of the ball, all of which has caught Arteta’s eye. The manager wants to work with him and make him a Premier League star.

Thierry Henry also had his say on the matter, with numerous reports revealing he had almost acted as an intermediary in discussions, due to his standing within Arsenal, close friendship with Kompany and first hand experience coaching Lokonga with the Belgian national team.

When Lokonga moves is as soon as someone meets Anderlecht’s valuation. Simple as that. Arsenal have tried to undercut it somewhat but his price has been set and the sooner the club stops tip-toeing around the odd penny (about €5m pennies) they’ll have their man.

Whereas interest in Ruben Neves remains strong, his arrival would constitute a replacement for Xhaka, while Lokonga is seen as the backup competition for Thomas Partey.

What the midfielder has is exceptional athleticism across of the park, making him agile enough to weave through challenges and mobile enough to perform a box-to-box role at great speed.

On the ball Lokonga has a very high technical level that can improve further with a new environment to develop; his first touch could use some work but his body movements are excellent in breaking the press and carrying the ball through the thirds, where another area of his game, final third decision making, can use some work.

Some rough edges but what is best about Lokonga is that all of those are malleable. With work he can improve on all his deficiencies while his best qualities have a rawness to them which is both natural and instinctive. An exciting young player and an addition with an eye on a rebuild. Some more smart business.