Arsenal bid for Anderlecht’s Lokonga

Arsenal have submitted a bid for the services of Albert Sambi Lokonga of Anderlecht, according to The Athletic.

The Gunners’ priority for this summer’s transfer window remains to secure a creative attacking midfielder. They’ve long been trying to sign Martin Odegaard on a permanent basis after the Norwegian impressed manager Mikel Arteta while on loan in the second half of 2020-21, but as things stand, he seems set to remain at Real Madrid with Carlo Ancelotti planning for 2021-22 with him.

However, Arsenal need reinforcements in other areas as well, including deeper midfield roles, and this is where the 21-year-old Anderlecht man comes in. Like Odegaard, Dani Ceballos is on his way back to Real, and Granit Xhaka could be sold to AS Roma with Jose Mourinho keen to take him to the Italian capital.

Arsenal’s offer for Lokonga amounts to around €15 million, while the Belgian side, who aren’t opposed to a sale, want closer to €20m.