Albert Sambi Lokonga has spent the season on loan at Sevilla from Arsenal but injuries have halted his progress and the La Liga club are unlikely to trigger their option to buy the player
Albert Sambi Lokonga is in line to return to Arsenal this summer after suffering his fourth injury of the season while on loan at Sevilla. The 25-year-old Belgian has made 20 appearances in La Liga but his progress in Andalusia has been halted by persistent hamstring problems. Sevilla negotiated a £10.25million buy-option for Lokonga within the initial loan agreement but they're unlikely to trigger that clause. That represents a blow for Arsenal as had that figure been met, they would have inherited a 25 per cent sell-on clause which would have entitled them to a slice of future profit.
When he has been available, Lokonga has been a regular starter for Sevilla but cash is tight at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan and the former Anderlecht starlet, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Luton Town, has struggled to maintain fitness. It had previously been speculated that Sevilla would try to negotiate below the £10.25m buy-option but Lokonga's latest injury, another muscle issue, means the chances of that happening look increasingly slim. Lokonga will have just one year remaining on his Arsenal contract at the end of the season and the club are determined to move him on. There is no way back for him at the Emirates Stadium under Mikel Arteta and he will be one of several stars to make way this summer to bolster Arsenal's transfer budget. Speaking in February, Lokonga made it clear he wants to remain at Sevilla having turned down multiple other offers last year to join the La Liga outfit. He said: “I feel very good. I’m growing. I feel better with each game. After leaving Anderlecht, Sevilla is the club where I feel very, very good. I want to stay but it’s not just my decision. It’s early days and we’ll see each other at the end of the year.”
Lokonga has won two international caps for Belgium and also previously spent time on loan at Crystal Palace. Sevilla have covered the player's salary during his time on loan at the club. Meanwhile, Arsenal are now open to the prospect of extending fellow midfielder Thomas Partey's contract which is currently due to expire at the end of June. Partey has been linked with moves to Barcelona and former club Atletico Madrid in the past few weeks but it appears he could yet stay in north London, where his family are understood to be happy.