AC Milan are reportedly in talks to sign Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The 22-year-old was brought in from native Belgian giants Anderlecht last summer after Gunners boss Mikel Arteta identified his talents and convinced his club to shell out £15million to secure his services. But Lokonga, who endured a difficult first season in north London, could now leave the Emirates a matter of weeks into his second campaign.
Tuttomercatoweb, via Football Italia, report that Milan have begun negotiations as they target a new midfielder before transfer deadline day on September 1. Lokonga has a long-term contract with Arsenal running until 2026, but it appears that the Gunners are willing to let the man once described as "the new Yaya Toure " join the newly-crowned Italian champions this summer.
That label comes from his former manager at Anderlecht, Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany, who handed him the captain's armband aged just 21. Reflecting on the first time that he saw Lokonga in action while Arteta was a coach at City, the four-time Premier League winner explained on Rio Ferdinand 's YouTube channel, FIVE : "The first thing I did when I saw Sambi is I went to Mikel and also Pep [Guardiola], but Mikel first and said, 'You got to watch this guy, he's the new Yaya Toure'.
"Anyway, nothing comes off it, he's got a cruciate ligament [injury]. Then I fall into the management job at Anderlecht, so I'm working with him.
"I had the same conversation with Mikel and I believe the same thing now. I'm not sure I'm doing him a favour saying this stuff, but look, you know what I like about Sambi, what Yaya did have, is, he wants the ball no matter what."
As Arteta bids to fine-tune his exciting squad ahead of what's set to be defining season for his Emirates tenure, technical director Edu is busy sanctioning departures either to free up wages or make room in the roster, with Lokonga next in line on the chopping block. But they best think twice if Burnley manager Kompany's verdict is anything to go by.
The once-capped Belgium international only started three games in the second half of last season but statistics show that Lokonga made an impact during his limited minutes.
According to the gurus at Fbref, no Arsenal player received more passes per 90 minutes than him last season (54.7) to demonstrate that he isn't shy at taking control of a game like Premier League icon Toure.
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The ex-City powerhouse was renowned for his driving runs, and the underlying numbers suggest that Lokonga also enjoys doing the same. Again on a per 90 basis, he averaged more progressive carries than any other Gunners midfielder last term and also drove more yards with the ball towards to opposition's goal than any other player throughout the whole of Arteta's squad, too.
In short, Arsenal's loss could be Milan's gain. The Rossoneri are in the market to upgrade their midfield and could repeat the trick of signing a Gunners castoff.
Milan snapped up Algerian starlet Ismael Bennacer, now a stalwart for Stefano Piolo 's Serie A title winners and also a deep-lying midfield playmaker, for a reported £14.5m two years after Arsenal let him go to fellow Italian side Empoli.
