Albert Sambi Lokonga’s likely next club – revealed

Albert Sambi Lokonga hasn’t enjoyed the most fruitful of times as an Arsenal player, and the Belgian midfielder is poised to spend the 2023/24 season out on loan in a bid to ignite his Premier League career.

Lokonga joined the club two summers ago with plenty of promise after excelling under Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht, and he was given the chance to shine in Mikel Arteta’s first team during his first 18 months at the club.

The 23-year-old played 39 times for the Gunners before spending the second half of 2022/23 on loan at Crystal Palace. He initially emerged as a regular under Patrick Vieira before his minutes dwindled after Roy Hodgson succeeded the Frenchman as manager at Selhurst Park.

Despite his youth, Lokonga appears to have reached a crossroads in his career with his pathway to frequent action in north London currently looking obscured.

Who is Albert Sambi Lokonga set to sign for this summer?

Lokonga was back at London Colney on Monday for the start of pre-season, but it’s unlikely that he’ll make the trip out to the United States for the club’s summer tour.

The midfielder is expected to leave the Gunners in some capacity this window, with Lokonga keen to play regularly next season ahead of Euro 2024. Asked about where his future lies in a recent interview, the 23-year-old said: “I don’t know, I will try to go somewhere where I can play.

“That’s the most important thing for me. To try to play some games and to play game after game,” he added.

Burnley have been talked up as Lokonga’s most likely next destination with the Clarets being led by the player’s former manager at Anderlecht, Kompany, who once described the Belgian as the ‘next Yaya Toure’. Burnley are said to boast an interest in Lokonga, but they’re yet to formally approach Arsenal about a move.

While a loan move would be preferred, the possibility of a permanent sale shouldn’t be ruled out. Although, Arsenal would like to recuperate much of the £18m they spent on him two years ago.