Burnley are said to be looking to sign Albert Sambi Lokonga this summer to reunite the midfielder with Vincent Kompany.
The Belgian made his name at Anderlecht when Kompany was in charge and was a big fan of it.
Burnley are looking to sign Lokonga from Arsenal
He even once noted how, while still playing for Manchester City, he told Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola’s No. 2, that he was “the new Yaya Toure”.
Speaking about the player’s potential on Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe channel with Five YouTube, Kompany said: “When I was still a City player, I was just about to a point where I was thinking about my future. Manage? Carry? Sign a new deal?”
“I was watching football from different countries, different places. I saw Sambi playing his first game – the first two games – and then he injured his knee.
“But the first thing I did when I saw Sambi was I went to Mikel and said, ‘You have to watch this guy, it’s the new Yaya Toure. “
According to The Sun, Burnley are set to gift Lokonga a £15m transfer away from Arsenal this summer which will see him reunited with Kompany.
The Clarets boss became Anderlecht manager in 2020 and worked with Lokonga for a year before the midfielder joined the Gunners in a £17m deal.
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Kompany was Anderlecht’s manager while Lokonga was there
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Arteta is looking to sell Lokonga this summer
It was that campaign under Company that persuaded the North Londoners to abandon his services, but he was from then on considered surplus to requirements.
Lokonga moved on loan to Crystal Palace until the end of the season in January and made nine Premier League appearances.
But his stay at Selhurst Park would end in the summer, prompting Burnley to consider a move.
Armed with the funds to bolster his squad and try to keep them in the Premier League, the City legend has identified the 23-year-old as the perfect addition to his side.
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Lokonga spent the second half of the season on loan at Crystal Palace
Kompany believes he can get the best out of the midfielder and see him return to the type that led to his move to the Premier League in the first place.
Selling Lokonga would also be a boost for Arteta, as he looks to cut down on his side of marginal players and revitalize his midfield.
Lokonga could join Granit Xhaka, Emile Smith Rowe, Kieran Tierney, Folarin Balogun and Nuno Tavares in leaving this summer on permanent transfers.
With a double line raid planned for Declan Rice and Moise Caicedo, Sales will provide Arteta with the cash to prize the duo away from West Ham and Brighton.
Arsenal is seeking to bolster its squad with quality players as they prepare for next season’s Champions League.
There are also great ambitions to go ahead and win the Premier League next year as well, after it seemed to fall at the last hurdle this season.
City are one win away from regaining the Premier League title, which will be their third in a row.
