Arsenal's 'next Yaya Toure' admits he may leave the club for good after private talks
Albert Sambi Lokonga has hinted he could leave Arsenal for good in the summer after holding talks over his long-term future.
The Belgium midfielder, 24, spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan with Premier League new boys Luton Town. But he could not prevent the Hatters from dropping back into the Championship.
While he featured regularly for Luton, Lokonga, who spent time out on loan at Crystal Palace last year, has struggled to nail down a place in the Arsenal team since joining the Gunners from Anderlecht in the summer of 2021.
And ahead of his return to the Emirates, Lokonga has revealed that the club and his agent are looking into potential destinations for next year.
Speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio, via Luton Today, Lokonga said: “For me, I had a discussion with Arsenal and the conclusion was the best thing for me was to leave the club, so now it’s up to my agent and the club to find something. I still have a contract there, one year plus a one-year option so let’s see what happens.”
While Lokonga has struggled to make an impact at Arsenal, there were high hopes for the midfielder when he arrived at the Emirates for a £17million fee.
Lokonga had made a big impression in his native Belgium with Anderlecht, where he came through the academy ranks. And he certainly impressed former Anderlecht head coach Vincent Kompany, who claimed Lokonga would be the next Yaya Toure.
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Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand's FIVE YouTube channel back in 2021, Kompany even revealed that he personally reached out to Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola to make them aware of Lokonga's potential.
He said: “The first thing I did when I saw Sambi is I went to Mikel [Arteta] and also Pep [Guardiola], but Mikel first and said, 'You got to watch this guy, he's the new Yaya Toure.' I'm not sure I'm doing him a favour saying this stuff.
“Look, you know what I like about Sambi, what Yaya did have, is, he wants the ball no matter what. If the team is not doing well, give the ball to Sambi. Team doing well? Give the ball to Sambi. He will never hide away from his responsibilities.”
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