Forgotten Arsenal flop set for Emirates return after injury nightmare with Sevilla unlikely to trigger transfer option
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
ARSENAL flop Albert Sambi Lokonga is set for a summer return to the Emirates after suffering his fourth injury of the season during his loan stint at Sevilla.
Lokonga, 25, joined the Andalusian outfit in July for the 2024-25 campaign in a deal that includes a £10.25million buy option.
3
Arsenal flop Albert Sambi Lokonga is set for a summer return to the Emirates
3
Sevilla are not keen to trigger Lokonga's release clause amid his loan stint due to injury
According to The Mirror, however, the LaLiga giants are unlikely to trigger that option due to persistent hamstring issues that have limited the midfielder to just 21 appearances across all competitions.
That poses as a blow for the Gunners, who wish to raise funds to bolster their transfer budget for the summer market.
Had that figure been met, the North Londoners would have also inherited a 25 per cent sell-on clause.
The same source suggests Sevilla tried to negotiate a lower release clause.
Read More on Arsenal
GROUND DESIGNS Three-time English title winners to construct one of UK's biggest stadiums
However, chances of a permanent deal are growing slimmer after yet another injury setback
Lokonga's contract with Arsenal runs out in 2026, which means the Premier League giants will be determined to offload him one way or another this summer.
That is because - as per the same source - there is no way back for the ex-Anderlecht star into Mikel Arteta's first team.
Nevertheless, the loan deal with Sevilla is paying off as it's the Spaniards who are covering Lokonga's wages.
Back in February, the player stated his desire to stay at Sevilla after turning down multiple offers from other clubs last summer.
Lokonga said: 'I feel very good. I'm growing. I feel better with each game.
How Arsenal can outsmart PSG in Champions League semi-final
"After leaving Anderlecht, Sevilla is the club where I feel very, very good.
"I want to stay but it's not just my decision. It's early days and we'll see each other at the end of the year.'
Lokonga also underwent two uneventful loan stints at Crystal Palace and Luton Town these past couple of years.
The Belgian counts a total of 39 appearances at Arsenal since his arrival in 2021.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
23 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Bryan Mbeumo's staggering salary demands after deciding on Man Utd transfer
Manchester United have their sights set on Bryan Mbeumo and are set to approach Brentford for talks in a bid to make the Cameroon star their second summer signing Bryan Mbeumo is said to have told Manchester United he wants to more than quadruple his wages to £250,000-a-week if he is to move to Old Trafford this summer. The Cameroon star, 25, has been identified by United as their next priority signing after concluding a deal for Matheus Cunha from Wolves. And despite interest from elsewhere in the form of Arsenal and Newcastle, Mbeumo has indicated his preference would be to join the Red Devils. Mbeumo is coming off the back of a standout season for Brentford after breaking the 20 goal barrier in the Premier League for the first time. United are set to approach Brentford imminently to try and thrash out a deal for the versatile forward, who is valued by the Londoners in excess of £60million. But Mbeumo's desire for a significant salary increase means the overall package of a deal for the Bees talisman will not be cheap. As first revealed by The Times, Mbeumo currently earns £50,000-a-week at Brentford; he's looking to increase that FIVE-FOLD should he move to Old Trafford. If United agreed to said demands, them Mbeumo would instantly become one of the club's highest earners during a transfer window where the Red Devils are looking to offload two of their most handsomely paid players in Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho. Mbeumo is in the final year of his deal in west London and, while the club do hold an option, there is an acceptance at Brentford that he is likely to move on after another stellar season in red and white. Like Cunha, Mbeumo would arrive at United as an oven ready addition to Ruben Amorim 's beleaguered squad given he is an established Premier League player. United finished 15th in the league last year and, as such, are planning for a major squad overhaul. Mbeumo's goal tally last season was among the best in the league with only Mo Salah, Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak bettering his 20 strikes. To put those returns into context, Bruno Fernandes and Amad were United's joint-top scorers in the Premier League last season with eight goals. While Brentford are open to cashing in on Mbeumo this summer, Thomas Frank, the Bees' head coach, has already stressed that their star forward will not leave on the cheap. 'It is clear that if he is to be sold, it must be for a nice, nice amount,' Frank said recently. 'It is a lot. Mucho. Really a lot. How many wingers score 20 goals for a mid-table club? And then with seven assists plus his work ethic. And his character. All these things mean that he has a lot, so he is a good player.'
Daily Mirror
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Man City eye transfer for Newcastle star with Pep Guardiola keen on deal
Pep Guardiola is looking to reshape his Manchester City squad this summer after ending season without silverware for first time in eight years and Newcastle star Tino Livramento is admired Manchester City are eyeing a surprise move for Newcastle defender Tino Livramento, according to reports. Pep Guardiola is looking to revamp his squad ahead of a renewed assault on all fronts next season after the club went without silverware for the first time in eight years. And Livramento, 22, is being looked at despite Newcastle having no appetite to sell a player who has three years left on his contract, as per the Daily Mail. The ex-Chelsea academy player arrived from Southampton in 2023 for £40m and was handed a senior England call-up earlier this year. City are also pushing ahead with a move to bring in Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves, with an expectation that he could sign in time for the Club World Cup later this month. City are also in talks with Lyon over a move for Rayan Cherki and they have already submitted a £55m bid for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak last week said City would come back stronger next season having finished 13 points behind champions Liverpool. It was the first campaign in eight that City did not win a single piece of silverware, while the club's legal battle with the Premier League rumbles on in the background. And Al Mubarak said: "We will be back. This season is a season that's now behind us. Today is a new day. We start working and preparing for next season. And by the way, we've been doing that since January. "And we will take all the good things and the not so good things from this season, and learn from it, improve from it and get better. "I can assure you, this club will do everything possible to come back to the standards that we know we all can achieve - and that we know we will achieve. "Because really, if there's one thing I'd like right now, it's to turn that page from last season and just immediately start focusing on next season. All the players, they're excited about coming back. Nobody feels good about how we finished the season. "They want to come back, and they want to come back hungry. And I can see the hunger. Normally these players are off and they're starting to think about vacation time etc. Honestly, every player I spoke to was telling me, 'we're coming back'. "That's the attitude you want - and that's exactly why you see me so positive. We're going to come back strong, with a lot of positivity."
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Arne Slot meets with Liverpool target as departing star speaks after exit
Arne Slot is wasting no time getting stuck into the transfer market after bringing in Jeremie Frimpong to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, while Liverpool are also hopeful of signing Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz Liverpool have a big challenge ahead of them this summer as Arne Slot looks to build on his Premier League title-winning squad to ensure the Reds remain in contention to retain their crown. The Dutchman enjoyed an incredible first season at Anfield as his side cruised to the title, beating nearest rivals Arsenal by 10 points. Slot has had challenges in this window after Trent Alexander-Arnold decided to leave Liverpool, but the Reds were able to get a transfer fee of around £10million for their boyhood talent. The club moved quickly to find his replacement as they snapped up Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool are also chasing more depth in midfield. Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz is top of Slot's wishlist while Lyon's Rayan Cherki has also been linked. Mirror Football has taken a look at the top Liverpool transfer news as the club continues to be active early in the window. Slot holds talks with Cherki Cherki is set to have huge interest in him this summer after his fantastic season with Lyon, where he registered 12 goals and 19 assists across all competitions. Liverpool's rivals Manchester City have also been strongly linked with signing Cherki as Guardiola looks for more quality further up the pitch. But the Reds are hoping to stay in the mix for Cherki in the event a move for Wirtz is blocked - with Leverkusen chasing around £125m for their star player. Slot is desperate for more depth in the No 10 role and according to the Athletic, he held talks with Cherki shortly after the club's final game of the season against Crystal Palace. Even though Wirtz is much higher up his wishlist, the discussions had been tabled before the possibility of signing him emerged, and Slot wanted to honour his word to speak to the France Under 21 star. Cherki remains a back-up option for Liverpool and the playmaker would have been a primary target had Wirtz resisted a move to Anfield. But with Wirtz receptive to the idea of joining Liverpool, City now look likely to sign Cherki after they themselves were turned down by the Leverkusen player. Kelleher speaks after Anfield exit Liverpool have confirmed their second major outgoing this summer after Alexander-Arnold's exit - with goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher leaving for Brentford. The Irishman has been forced to accept a back-up role at Anfield behind Slot's first choice Alisson, though he has impressed when given a chance to play in the Brazilian's place. Kelleher deputised 20 times for Liverpool this season after Alisson struggled on the sidelines with injury and he will now be looking forward to becoming a No 1 option for the Bees after they sold Mark Flekken. Speaking for the first time since signing for Thomas Frank's men, Kelleher said it was "not difficult" for him to leave Liverpool because of the lack of opportunities. "I'm buzzing, I'm really happy to be here. I don't think it was very difficult for me to leave [Liverpool]. I felt for my own career that the time was right for me to go, to be a no.1 and to play every week. "I heard of some interest a number of weeks ago. Once I knew Brentford was in for me, it was definitely one I was really excited about and wanted to do as quickly as possible. "When I come back for pre-season, all focus will be on what I want to do next year; to work on certain goals and what I need to improve on, and to have a really good season for Brentford." Neville stunned by Liverpool's Trent deal Alexander-Arnold joining Real Madrid came as no surprise to anyone - but what caught some people off guard was the fact the La Liga side decided to pay £10m for him, despite the player becoming a free agent at the end of the month. Madrid splashed the cash to ensure the England right-back was available for their Club World Cup campaign in the United States, which has a total prize of around £100m for the winner. Alexander-Arnold is set to slot straight into Xabi Alonso's team due to their lack of options at right-back, which is another factor why Madrid were so keen to wrap up the deal as quickly as possible. Gary Neville has led the baffled reaction over how Liverpool were able to collect such a fee despite most expecting the boyhood star to leave on a free transfer. "Honestly, no, I mean, I'm stunned by that really, that £10m has changed hands for, but there is £100m pounds at stake in this World Club Championship and Real Madrid have got a great chance of doing it," he said on the It's Called Soccer podcast on the US Overlap channel. "So you imagine if he plays in this tournament, they haven't got a right back that's playing there naturally at this moment in time. So it could be money well spent in four or five weeks. "I just find it crazy that you're spending £10m to have a player for five, six games. It's incredible."
