DONE DEAL✅✅: “Mikel Arteta Approval Is All That Is Left” As Sevilla Agree £3M Loan Deal For 24 year Old Arsenal Midfielder
La Liga side Sevilla have now agreed personal terms with an Arsenal midfielder, hoping to finalise a deal with the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta could perhaps sanction the departure of several first-team Arsenal players this summer in a small squad overhaul.
Arteta clearly had a trusted first eleven last season, which left many on the sidelines, bereft of responsibility or minutes.
Aaron Ramsdale is the flagship example of that situation. David Raya’s arrival means that Ramsdale is likely to leave Arsenal this summer in search of another first team role.
And incidentally, Arsenal are now said to have found Ramsdale’s replacement.
But it wasn’t just the players sitting on Arteta’s bench who could be surplus to requirements moving forwards, there’s also those who were out on loan.
Albert Sambi Lokonga, who Arteta signed for £17m in 2021, spent last season on loan at Luton Town, enjoying ‘outstanding‘ success when fit.
And now returning to Arsenal, it seems as if the 24-year-old is set for another loan move away from the club after Albert Sambi Lokonga agrees personal terms with Sevilla to leave Arsenal on loan
According to Spanish outlet Penalty, Lokonga has agreed terms with Sevilla to join the side for the 2024/25 season.
Sevilla are happy to pay a €3m fee for the loan move, and the only sticking point of the deal right now is Arsenal stipulating to include a mandatory purchase option.
Journalist Maximo de la Cruz Ramirez, who was recently credited by Fabrizio Romano, was behind the report, and shared the information on X.
It read: “Agreement between Sevilla and Lokonga. The Seville club and the Belgian player Albert Sambi Lokonga have an agreement for the transfer.
“Sevilla FC will pay the price — which is €3m.
“Now they are looking to reach an agreement with Arsenal who wants to include a mandatory purchase, while Sevilla wants it to be optional.”
Should Arsenal manage to agree a deal in total with Sevilla, opinion among fans may be split.
Some will be happy that Lokonga will be playing regular football once again, perhaps then securing the club a fee to cover the money they paid in 2021.
And then others may feel that in a summer in which Arsenal want a new midfielder, they already have a 24-year-old showing so much promise. Either way, Arsenal are now said to be in contact with Barcelona to sign a defender who is currently at Euro 2024.
