Arsenal have made a storming start to the new Premier League campaign, but that hasn't prevented Mikel Arteta from sketching out some tentative January transfer plans.
The Gunners are the early pacesetters in the top-flight and are currently just ahead of reigning champions Manchester City at the summit of the Premier League after chalking up 21 points from a possible 24 so far this term.
Arsenal's stellar form has sparked hope that the Londoners could finally be equipped to challenge for the title again off the back of some impressive recruitment work in the summer. But Arteta is not resting on his laurels and is already making plans to bolster his squad again in the New Year.
According to a new report from Calciomercato, the Spaniard has earmarked Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli as the Gunners' next major transfer target. Locatelli is currently out of favour in Turin after falling out of favour with Massimiliano Allegri and it is believed the Italian international will be available in January.
Arsenal are long-term admirers of Locatelli and failed with a previous swoop for the 24-year-old. The report claims that Arsenal are hoping that a fresh pursuit will bear fruit - and they are willing to part ways with Albert Sambi Lokonga in order to get a deal over the line.
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Lokonga, who was dubbed as the 'new Yaya Toure' by his former Anderlecht boss Vincent Kompany, only joined the Gunners last summer in a £17million deal from the Belgian giants. But the 22-year-old has failed to make a significant impact at the Emirates Stadium and Arteta could now decide to sacrifice the youngster in a straight swap deal with Locatelli.
Lokonga has only started 14 Premier League matches under Arteta, including just two this term. The defensive midfielder was introduced as a late substitute in Saturday's win against Tottenham in the north London derby.
Kompany, who is now the boss at Burnley, lavished praise on Lokonga last year and revealed that he immediately went to Arteta, who was coaching at Manchester City at the time, and Pep Guardiola after watching Lokonga play.
He told Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel ‘FIVE’ : "The first thing I did when I saw Sambi is I went to Mikel and also Pep, 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.”
