Sevilla close to Arsenal signing as Gunners relax their stance | OneFootball

Sevilla are close to completing the signing of Albert Sambi Lokonga this summer, with Arsenal seemingly relaxing their stance on a loan move.

Albert Sambi Lokonga trains with Arsenal (Photo via Lokonga on Instagram)

Spanish outlet ABC report that Arsenal have relaxed their stance on an obligation to buy in Albert Sambi Lokonga’s proposed loan to Sevilla, adding that the player is very close to completing a transfer as a result.

ABC write that Sevilla are close to completing the loan deal, with Lokonga giving his approval to the move, aware that he doesn’t have a place in Mikel Arteta’s squad for next season.

Reports broke in late June that Arsenal and Sevilla were in advanced talks for a potential transfer for Lokonga, and negotiations over the purchase clause were seemingly holding things up.

Luton Town’s Albert Sambi Lokonga (L) fights for the ball with Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Luton Town at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on February 21, 2024. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Spanish journalists had reported that Sevilla were pushing for an option to buy, but Arsenal wanted an obligation to buy set at €12m (£10.2m).

If Arsenal have now relaxed that stance and would accept an option to buy, the deal would certainly become more likely, though the chances of the Gunners ever seeing the fee they’d agreed would significantly lessen.

Arsenal already received a fee of £500,000 for Lokonga’s loan to Luton Town last season and may also have received a fee for his loan to Crystal Palace. But that still puts them a way off recouping the £15m they invested in him to begin with.

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND: Albert Sambi Lokonga of Luton Town celebrates victory at full-time following the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Luton Town at Bramall Lane on December 26, 2023. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Lokonga playing 19 times for Luton Town last season amid a couple of injury setbacks.

Despite those spells out through injury, Lokonga was back in the team by the end of the campaign, making five consecutive starts in the final month and putting in some strong performances.

After the season’s conclusion, the midfielder spoke to the media about his intentions to leave Arsenal.

“I think that [my time at Arsenal] is slowly coming to the end,” Lokonga said.

“I had a discussion with the club and what was said is that the best solution for me was to leave. I have a one-year contract plus a one-year option, so now it’s up to the club and my agent to find the best solution.”