Arsenal in talks with Burnley to loan Albert Sambi Lokonga

Arsenal are in talks with Burnley over a season-long loan for midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga.

A switch to Turf Moor would give Lokonga the opportunity to reunite with Vincent Kompany, his former head coach at Anderlecht.

Lokonga joined Arsenal for around £15 million in the summer of 2021 but has struggled to secure a regular spot in Mikel Arteta’s starting line-up since moving to England.

The 23-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace, where he made nine Premier League appearances.

The Belgium international starred at Anderlecht under the management of Kompany, who once compared him to Manchester City legend Yaya Toure and strongly recommended him to Arteta before Arsenal made the decision to sign him.

Lokonga has been dealing with a minor muscular injury in pre-season and was therefore not involved in the club’s tour of the United States.

Lokonga has fallen further down the midfield pecking order in recent months following the signing of Jorginho in January and the arrivals of Kai Havertz and Declan Rice this summer.

Having spent around £200 million on Rice, Havertz and Jurrien Timber, Arsenal are prioritising the departures of fringe players at this stage of the window and are also in talks over an exit for defender Auston Trusty.

Telegraph Sport understands that Sheffield United are leading the race to sign Trusty, a United States international who excelled on loan at Birmingham City last season.

Arsenal are open to selling Trusty on a permanent basis or loaning him out for the season, with Championship clubs including Ipswich Town and Swansea City also showing interest.

Newly-promoted Sheffield United have now moved to the front of the queue for the 24-year-old, who was voted Birmingham’s player of the season last year.

Trusty signed for Arsenal in January 2022 from Colorado Rapids (who are also owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment) but has never made a competitive appearance for the club.

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