Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is refusing to rest on his laurels following the Gunners' stunning start to the season, with the Spaniard set to dip back into the transfer market in the New Year.
The Londoners saw a late move for Aston Villa enforcer Douglas Luiz collapse at the eleventh hour on deadline day last summer, and the club are expected to resume their search for midfield reinforcements once the winter window opens in January.
Links to long-term midfield target Manuel Locatelli have resurfaced this week, with the Italian international currently on the fringes at Juventus after falling out of favour under Massimiliano Allegri.
And a new report from Calciomercato has claimed that the Gunners are even willing to part ways with midfield prospect Albert Sambi Lokonga in a swap deal to finally bring Locatelli to Emirates Stadium.
Lokonga has struggled to make an impression since joining Arsenal in a £17million deal from Anderlecht in the summer of 2021. The Belgian has started just two Premier League matches this term under Arteta, who could now decide to use the midfielder as a makeweight in any potential deal for Locatelli.
But with Lokonga still only 22 years of age, he has plenty of scope to flourish into a player capable of making an impact in the Gunners first team - just like another player who has been a driving force behind Arsenal's recent run.
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William Saliba has established himself as a pivotal part of Arteta's squad after spending the last 18 months away from the club on loan.
The highly-rated Frenchman has been integrated into the Arsenal ranks slowly by Arteta, who decided early on in his tenure that Saliba was not ready to feature in his first-team plans. The Spaniard is now reaping the rewards of that approach as Saliba outshines some of the club's - and the Premier League's - more established defensive names.
Arteta has deployed a similar trick this season regarding Nuno Tavares, who - like Lokonga - endured a difficult maiden campaign in English football last year.
But the Portuguese wing-back is thriving in France after joining Marseille season-long loan deal.
Lokonga was one of the most coveted midfield prospects in Europe prior to his switch to the Emirates last summer, with former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany even dubbing the youngster as the 'new Yaya Toure'.
With that in mind, authorising a permanent exit for Lokonga could turn out to be an oversight. Arteta has already reaped the rewards after persevering with some top young talents, so it feels like a no-brainer for Arsenal to adopt a similar approach with Lokonga.
