Arsenal reject AS Monaco bid for Albert Sambi Lokonga

Arsenal have reportedly dismissed interest from Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco in Belgian midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga.

According to Foot Mercato, Premier League giants Arsenal have rejected an offer from AS Monaco for Belgian midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga in the ongoing 2023 January transfer window.

The 23-year-old joined the Gunners from Belgian club Anderlecht in 2021 but has failed to secure a spot for him in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI. Essentially a rotational player, Lokonga has so far managed 39 appearances for Arsenal without conjuring up a single assist or goal.

The duo of Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka are Arteta’s preferred combination in midfield, with Lokonga having to settle for the bench. With the Gunners impressing in the Premier League this season, the Gunners’ boss has little reason to tinker with his first-choice duo.

Lokonga has been limited to cup games and the odd substitute appearance this season. He started Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Manchester City on Friday night and displayed why his career has failed to take off in north London.

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Lokonga’s positioning was suspect, and it played a key role in the leadup to Manchester City’s winner. He also earned himself skipper Martin Odegaard’s displeasure and stormed down the tunnel at full-time. While it is understandable that the 23-year-old was frustrated with his performance, his attitude on the field does not garner him much sympathy.

Ligue 1 giants AS Monaco have enjoyed a rather busy January and are interested in offering Lokonga a way out of his Arsenal nightmare. However, their €8 million bid has been knocked back by the Gunners. The 23-year-old’s contract at the Emirates runs until 2026 and gives the Premier League leaders an advantage in negotiations.

With still much to play for in the Premier League this season, it makes sense for Arteta to want to keep Lokonga. Partey suffered a knock in the game against Manchester City and will have an MRI later on Saturday. Should he be forced out for a while, Arsenal’s squad depth will come into play.

Lokonga is far from a first-teamer at Arsenal and has largely fallen short of expectations when handed an opportunity. But his presence does give Arteta a semblance of depth in a key area of the field.

A move away from the Emirates will certainly aid the player’s chances of resurrecting his career and the less physical Ligue 1 would be an ideal fit. However, that appears to be a no go at least for now. Whether other dealings, like that of Moises Caicedo, could change Arsenal’s mind in the final days of the window remain to be seen.