Albert Sambi Lokonga has emerged as a target for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, and the Arsenal man has previously been compared to Yaya Toure.
Albert Sambi Lokonga has been compared to Yaya Toure
Liverpool could make a surprise move to sign Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga before Friday’s transfer deadline.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is said to be interested in bringing the 24-year-old to Anfield to bolster his options in midfield. The Belgium international has been compared to former Manchester City star Yaya Toure.
Lokonga joined Arsenal from Anderlecht two years ago after catching the eye while playing under Vincent Kompany in the Belgian Pro League.
He made 24 appearances for the Gunners in his first season in England, but fell out of favor last season and was loaned out to Crystal Palace in January.
Lokonga has yet to play for Arsenal this season due to a muscle injury. According to Get French Football News (via Express), Lokonga’s representatives have offered Liverpool the option to complete the deal.
In an interview with Rio Ferdinand (2021) on his Vibe with Five YouTube channel, City legend Kompany described Lokonga as “the new Yaya Toure” and recommended him to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
“When I was still a City player, I started to get to a point where I thought about my future,” Kompany said. “Leadership? Jack? sign a new contract?
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“I watched football from different countries, from different places. And I saw Sambi play his first game – his first two games – and then he hurt his knee.
But the first thing I did when I saw Sambi was to go to Mikel [Arteta] and say, ‘You have to see this guy, he’s the new Yaya Toure.’
“Anyway, nothing will come of it. He has a cross connection and then I end up with Anderlecht management, so I work with him now. And I had the same about him with Mikel, I still believe the same.”
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Lokonga is admired in Liverpool
Liverpool have added Alexis MacAllister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo to Klopp’s midfield this summer.
But the German manager wants another newcomer in the position, with the club also linked with Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch. Kompany – now Burnley manager – added of Lokonga:
“I’m not sure I’m doing him a favor by saying something like that. What I like about Sambi – and that’s rare in football, Yaya had – is that he wants the ball. no no matter what
“If the team is not doing well, give the ball to Sambi. If the team is doing well, give the ball to Sambi. He never shirks his responsibility. “He has things he needs to improve.
If he remembers our conversations, he knows exactly what he still needs to work on. Yaya was a graduate and that’s very rare. I don’t know about th
– The point is that you need players who are not afraid to control the ball when the going is difficult. As a central defender, your job stops at a certain point on the ball.
“And you have to be able to give that to people who can see the next move, see the next move, take responsibility, take people and set that pace when there’s no pace left in the game. For me, that’s what makes Sambi special. ”
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