Fabrizio Romano tips Albert Sambi Lokonga to leave Arsenal on loan again next season

Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga could leave the club on loan again next season, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Belgium international was signed in the summer of 2021 from Anderlecht, having established himself as one of Europe's top young midfielders.

Vincent Kompany said that he advised Gunners manager Mikel Arteta to seal a deal for the youngster, comparing his attributes to those of Manchester City legend Yaya Toure.

Kompany told the Vibe with FIVE YouTube channel: "I was watching football from different countries and I saw Sambi play his first two games for Anderlecht, then he got a big knee injury.

"But the first thing I did when I saw Sambi was, I went to Mikel, and also Pep Guardiola, but Mikel first and I said, 'You've got to watch this guy, he's the new Yaya Toure'.

"Anyway, nothing comes from it, he's got a cruciate ligament [injury], and then I end up falling into the management job at Anderlecht so I'm working with him now [in 2021]. I had the same conversation about him with Mikel, I still believe the same thing now [new Toure]."

Despite those rave reviews, however, it hasn't yet worked out for Lokonga at Arsenal.

A lack of regular game time this season hasn't helped, whilst the Belgian has played in several different roles in midfield for the Gunners, without yet nailing down a first team spot.

He has spent the second half of the current season on loan at Crystal Palace, where he started five of his first seven matches under Patrick Vieira.

Since the Frenchman's sacking, however, Lokonga has been restricted to just one start - the 2-0 defeat to Wolves on Tuesday.

Lokonga could leave Arsenal on another loan

Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal could take the decision to loan him out again for a second consecutive season.

On his Daily Briefing, he confirmed that Arteta still 'trusts' the 23-year-old midfielder, but that the club are looking at the next steps.

He explained: "It's not been an easy loan spell at Crystal Palace for Albert Sambi Lokonga.

"Still, Arsenal trust his skills and his potential, but they want him to play. He needs to play. It's possible they will discuss one more loan season, but this is something they will clarify with player and agent in June and not now."

One obvious move for the midfielder would be to newly-promoted Burnley, where he would reunite with Clarets boss Kompany and have the opportunity of playing regular football.

Kompany has often utilised a two-player midfield this season, where former West Ham youngster Josh Cullen has been one of the stars of the division. He has formed a strong partnership with Josh Brownhill, and the pair may be difficult to displace next season, but that may be the challenge that Arsenal want Lokonga to experience.