The idea of loaning out Albert Sambi Lokonga during his first year at Arsenal is ‘gradually emerging as a hypothesis’ once his move to the Emirates is completed.
That’s according to Sport Magazine, who cover the midfielder’s impending move from Anderlecht today.
They back up other reports from Belgium that Lokonga is not set to complete his move to Arsenal until he has completed quarantine in the United Kingdom.
The midfielder travelled to London on Saturday morning to complete medical tests, which he had started on Friday in the Netherlands, hoping to avoid quarantine rules and join Mikel Arteta’s squad straight away.
A €17m deal plus bonuses is in place, including a percentage on resale, and when that is done, he will be adding himself to a ‘prestigious list’ of Belgians to have moved to England over the last few years.
Indeed, his move has ‘raised the hopes’ that there will be a second generation of talent from the country, with many behind the scenes at Anderlecht predicting Lokonga will ‘adapt to the Premier League in a flash’.
Lokonga is very much ready to make an impact in England and will arrive at Arsenal after turning down two offers from Italy.
He wants to ‘test his limits’ in the Premier League but the possibility of a loan deal during his first year is ‘gradually emerging as a hypothesis’.
That’s something for the future, and Arsenal are likely to make a decision during pre-season, with the ‘main objective’ at the club to have their squad finalised by the end of July when they’re set to travel to the USA.
