Arsenal want €15m to let Albert Sambi Lokonga go this summer, but Sevilla cannot commit to the figure or even one ‘significantly lower’
That’s according to ABC Sevilla, who report that the two clubs remain locked in negotiations over Arsenal’s insistence that a mandatory purchase clause be included in any deal for him.
Reports throughout this week have explained how Sevilla are trying to work on a loan deal for Lokonga as they look to strengthen their squad this summer.
Arsenal are open to sending him on a third straight loan deal after spells at Crystal Palace and Luton Town, but want to ensure they can move the player on permanently next year.
That’s a problem for Sevilla as their finances are extremely limited, with every euro carefully managed and future commitments such as that.
They can’t commit to paying the €15m Arsenal want, with the Gunners keen to ensure Lokonga’s price remains locked, and they can recover most of the €17m plus they paid to sign him from Anderlecht.
Indeed, they can’t even commit to activating the purchase clause for Lucien Agoumé, who was a key player this season and has a clause which is ‘significantly lower’ than the one Arsenal are demanding for Lokonga.
The suggestion is that the Gunners won’t be getting their way regardless of their efforts, with negotiations now focused on turning the mandatory clause into an optional one.
As ever, Sevilla may as well be waving red flags. They have a distinct history of taking players on loan and it not benefitting the club who own them, and not the player either.
