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Arsenal in Albert Sambi Lokonga loan talks with Crystal Palace after agreeing Jorginho deal.
According to reports, Arsenal are in talks with Crystal Palace over a loan move for Albert Sambi Lokonga.
After missing out on their top target Moises Caicedo from Brighton, the Gunners have reached a £12 million agreement with Chelsea to sign Jorginho on the final day of the transfer window.
With Arsenal out of both domestic cups, this means that Lokonga, who hasn’t featured in a Premier League match since October, will likely see his game time cut even further.
After a trying few months at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal is anxious to make sure the Belgian international can play regularly to regain his form. Lokonga will work with Patrick Vieira, a former Gunners legend, at Palace, which is eager to sign him.
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Lokonga has fallen increasingly further down the pecking order in north London and has garnered little sympathy from Mikel Arteta.
“We’ll see more, and he has to prove that what he’s asking for he can produce on the pitch,” the Spaniard said in reaction to an interview in which Lokonga stated his frustration at a lack of minutes. “We’re looking for every single player to raise their level and get the right competition in the team, and when you play and perform in a way that we win and play well enough to win games.”
Arsenal’s pursuit of Declan Rice is not considered to be impacted by Lokonga’s transfer. Mikel Arteta’s top summer transfer target is the England international, and the Gunners are eager to sign him away from West Ham.