Mikel Arteta wants to assemble a team that can defeat Manchester City and win the Premier League, so Arsenal will have a busy summer.
The manager of the Gunners is eager to add players, but in order to make room in the squad, a number of players will need to leave the Emirates.
At least seven players who Arteta doesn’t believe are a part of his long-term plans are expected to leave Arsenal this summer, as TEAMtalk has previously reported.
Among them is midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga, who is valued highly at Arsenal but is expected to depart permanently in the upcoming days.
The 24-year-old struggled with injuries while on loan at Luton Town in 2023–2024. He played for the Hatters in 17 Premier League games, scoring one goal, but he was unable to keep them from being relegated.
Arsenal is prepared to consider bids for Lokonga, whose contract is scheduled to expire in 2026.
Albert Sambi Lokonga makes the decision to quit Arsenal.
It has been effectively confirmed by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano on X that Lokonga will be leaving Arsenal this summer during an interview with VOOsport.
Although he paid £17.2 million to join from Anderlecht in 2021, he has never truly fulfilled his enormous potential.
“I believe my time at Arsenal is slowly coming to an end,” Lokonga remarked.
“After talking with the club, it was decided that leaving would be the best course of action for me.”
It will be interesting to watch if any Premier League teams decide to gamble on Lokonga during the upcoming summer.
To replace him and the also-likely-to-leave Thomas Partey, Arsenal has already identified a number of intriguing midfield targets.
Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle is a player that the Gunners greatly admire, but it would seem unlikely that they could sign the Brazilian for £100 million.
Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociaded appears like a more likely addition. Because of his reputation as one of La Liga’s top defensive midfielders, Arsenal has been monitoring the Spaniard since January 2023.
According to reports, Zubimendi’s contract includes a £51 million release clause, and Arteta and company are willing to pay it to acquire him.
