Luton Town 'agree loan deal for Arsenal's Albert Sambi Lokonga'

Luton Town have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga on loan.

The Belgium international arrived at the Emirates in 2021 with plenty of potential to fulfil, having received a glowing review from then-Anderlecht boss Vincent Kompany.

Arsenal paid just shy of £15m to bring Lokonga to the Emirates, and the 23-year-old caught the eye in his first pre-season with the club before making 24 appearances in his debut campaign.

However, with Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey's partnership working to great effect last season, Lokonga was restricted to just two Premier League starts, although he was a regular in the Europa League.

A loan switch to Crystal Palace followed for the second half of the season, where Lokonga initially won over Patrick Vieira, but his fortunes took a nosedive following Roy Hodgson's arrival.

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Lokonga left Palace with no goals and no assists to show from nine matches, while he is also without a direct contribution in 39 competitive matches for Arsenal so far.

After his pre-season was disrupted by a muscular injury, the Belgian has not made a matchday squad under Mikel Arteta so far in the 2023-24 season and has been expected to leave either on loan or permanently.

Lokonga was initially expected to reunite with Kompany at Burnley, but according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Luton have won the race to sign the former Anderlecht man.

Lokonga is set to join Rob Edwards's side on a straight loan with no option or obligation to buy, and he has now given the thumbs-up to a switch to Kenilworth Road.

The Belgium international could be one of several players to bid farewell to Arsenal on deadline day, with Nuno Tavares departing for Nottingham Forest on loan earlier in the day.

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Rob Holding is also believed to be on the verge of a permanent move to Palace, who will pay £4m to buy the Englishman out of the final year of his Arsenal contract.

In addition, the Gunners are working to find solutions for Cedric Soares and Nicolas Pepe, both of whom have also been frozen out of Arteta's first-team squad.

However, Cedric is still believed to be keen to fight for his place, while Pepe is short of suitors, leading to speculation that Arsenal could look to terminate the Ivorian's contract.

Arsenal seek to maintain their unbeaten start to the Premier League season at home to Manchester United on Sunday, and Arteta confirmed in his pre-match press conference that he is not expecting any more arrivals before the 11pm cut-off point.