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Topics: Arsenal, Vincent Kompany, Burnley, Mikel Arteta, Premier League, Transfers, Crystal Palace
Ryan Smart
Topics: Arsenal, Vincent Kompany, Burnley, Mikel Arteta, Premier League, Transfers, Crystal Palace
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany wants to sign Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga after the Clarets' promotion to the Premier League, according to a new report.
The Times reported on Monday that Sambi Lokonga was one of up to 10 players that Arsenal were willing to sell this summer in order to fund pursuits for Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.
The Belgium international struggled for playing time at the Emirates Stadium at the start of the season, and has spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Crystal Palace.
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Initially recruited while Gunners legend Patrick Vieira was in charge at Selhurst Park, Lokonga has started only one game since Roy Hodgson's arrival at the beginning of April.
But Kompany could offer him an escape route from Arsenal that keeps him in the Premier League.
The Belgian previously revealed to Vibe with FIVE that he recommended Lokonga to both Gunners manager Mikel Arteta and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola while the midfielder was at Anderlecht, comparing him to City legend Yaya Toure.
Burnley have returned to the top flight for next season at the first time of asking, having suffered relegation to the Championship in the 2021/22 season.
The Clarets have spent money effectively this season to overhaul their squad, and Kompany's attractive style of play helped them to top the second division with 101 points.
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Now, Lokonga could be their first summer signing.
According to The Sun - who describe Lokonga as 'unwanted' and 'surplus to requirements' at Arsenal - Kompany is plotting a potential move for his compatriot due to Palace's reluctance to make their loan deal permanent.
It is claimed that Kompany will be backed this summer by the Clarets board after signing a new five-year contract with the club earlier this month, and has identified Lokonga as one of his transfer targets.
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Furthermore, the same report adds that the 23-year-old could be signed for £15 million, which would then help Arsenal to seal the signatures of their own targets this summer.
The Belgian could become Burnley's record signing, which stands at the reported £15 million fee that the Clarets paid to sign Chris Wood from Leeds in 2017.
The New Zealand striker spent four-and-a-half years at Turf Moor before moving to Newcastle in a £25 million deal last year.