Atletico Madrid will compete with fellow La Liga club Sevilla and Real Betis to sign 25-year-old Belgian midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga from Arsenal this summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Vamos Mi Sevilla, Albert Sambi Lokonga is the subject of interest from Atletico Madrid. Andalusian giants Real Betis and Sevilla are also keen on signing the Belgian midfielder, with the latter having the option to complete a permanent move for €12 million after the loan agreement with Arsenal ends.
Albert Sambi Lokonga and his Arsenal career
Albert Sambi Lokonga has finally found a stable footing since joining Sevilla from Arsenal on a season-long loan deal with a purchase option worth €12 million last summer. A native of Verviers, the player has been on Arsenal’s books since July 2021. However, he has embarked on three loan spells away from the North London club.
The 25-year-old has been solid thus far for Sevilla, turning out 18 times in all competitions this term while chipping in with two assists. Meanwhile, Lokonga’s exploits for Los Nervionenses have not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs across Europe. La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid, Real Betis, and Sevilla are keen on securing his services in the summer transfer window.
La Liga stay on the horizon?
Atletico Madrid will likely dip into the market for a midfielder heading into the summer transfer window. The Colchoneros are in a spot of bother over Pablo Barrios’s long-term future, with the Spanish midfield prospect capturing the attention of several well-known clubs across Europe. So, Lokonga has emerged as a viable target for Atletico Madrid.
Meanwhile, Real Betis’s interest in Albert Sambi Lokonga is understandable. Johnny Cardoso will likely depart from the Benito Villamarin Stadium in the summer transfer window amid his links with Tottenham Hotspur. In addition, William Carvalho is on the wrong side of 30. So, the Arsenal loanee is an option worth considering for Real Betis.
As for Sevilla, the Belgian midfielder has made his mark at the Andalusian club during his loan spell thus far. So, it is hardly surprising that the Nervionenses want to seal a permanent deal ahead of the summer transfer window. However, they do not want to trigger their purchase option of €12 million to secure his services.
While the report does not mention Sevilla’s preferred price instead of €12 million, it will be interesting to see how much they cough up to secure his services. However, the 25-year-old Belgian midfielder seems like he will remain in La Liga beyond the summer transfer window.
