Juventus have reportedly proposed a swap deal with Arsenal involving Albert Sambi Lokonga and Weston McKennie.
According to Calciomercato News, Juventus have proposed a swap deal to bring Albert Sambi Lokonga to the club. The Serie A giants want the 22-year-old midfielder in January and are willing spare Weston McKennie in exchange. Whether Arsenal are open to the idea is yet to be seen, but it does sound interesting on paper.
Weston McKennie will count on his lucky stars for a regular place in the starting lineup at Juventus this season. Due to injuries to key stars, including Paul Pogba and Federico Chiesa, Massimiliano Allegri has picked the American midfielder owing to the change in shape.
Many believe McKennie could be back on the bench once those injured stars return. Hence, the media has already linked the 24-year-old ace with a move away from the club. The USMNT ace has started seven of the ten Serie A games this season, providing a single assist.
He was linked with a move away in the summer but ended up staying put in Turin. Juventus may look to somewhat refresh their squad in January. They might consider selling the 24-year-old ace for another player. As per the reports, that player seems to be Arsenal’s Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Lokonga has endured an indifferent time since joining Arsenal in the summer of 2021. While it was made abundantly clear the Belgian would be a backup midfield option, he got plenty of opportunities during his debut season due to injuries to Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey.
The 22-year-old midfielder has started just twice this season, again attributed to Partey’s injury. However, when the Ghanaian is fit, the Belgian finds himself on the bench often. While Lokonga regularly plays in Europe, there are concerns that the midfielder is not developing to his liking with Arsenal.
While few clubs in Italy remain interested, Juventus have entered the chase. The Serie A giants are willing to offer McKennie in exchange for Lokonga, but Arsenal are yet to respond to the proposal.
Earlier reports suggested Arsenal were ready to offer Lokonga in exchange for Manuel Locatelli, but Juventus seemed to have other ideas. Whether the Gunners are keen on the 24-year-old American ace remains to be seen, but it sounds like an exciting proposal on paper.
Arsenal certainly need a new midfielder but have never before considered a deal for McKennie. However, the coming months would be crucial in determining the futures of both Lokonga and the 24-year-old American.
