Arsenal wanted to sign Moises Caicedo in the last transfer window and tabled some impressive bids for the Ecuadorian midfielder, but Brighton turned them all down.
The Gunners had made him a priority signing as they looked to get as many players into their group as possible in the January window.
However, Brighton did not want to sell and now the move could be back on at the end of the season if Mikel Arteta’s side is still interested.
However, journalist Rudy Galetti has now revealed that Arteta’s stance on Caicedo might change in the summer as he seeks to use one player already at his disposal.
He tells Give Me Sport that the Gunners might give the role to Albert Sambi Lokonga if he does well on loan at Crystal Palace.
Galetti said: “In the summer, they could try again for Moises Caicedo, but [Mikel] Arteta wants to make a final decision only after evaluating the performance of [Albert] Sambi Lokonga, who is now on loan at Crystal Palace. So, it’s an option, but at the moment, nothing has been decided yet for Moises Caicedo in the summer”
Just Arsenal Opinion
Caicedo is a fine midfielder who has done well for Brighton so far and we could still move for him in the summer.
But if Sambi Lokonga does well on loan, we could use the money for the Ecuadorian to strengthen other parts of our team and give the Belgian a second chance.
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Why would would any Gooner think that Sambi, such a huge disappointment so far, would pull up trees at Palace?
The odds are hugely against it and I SEE NOTHING IN THIS ARTICLE THAT PRESENTS ANY EVIDENCE TO BACK ITS CASE. Just expressing a hope doesn’t cut it, I regret to say.
Consistent game time can do wonders sometimes
Whilst I agree with jon that he has been poor so far, funkyrith is correct what is being said about consistent game time.
Some players need longer to adapt, especially to the EPL, and Sambi has been in and out the team, barely playing at times.
Hopefully consistent gametime, especially under Vieira, can get the best out of him. Or at least push up/maintain his value, in view of selling him during the summer.
To be fair the article stated quoting Arteta’s apparent thoughts that if Sambi does well on loan then he may earn his place back. Which seems precisely as it should be.
Where you extrapolated he is 100% going to do well at Palace and 100% be reintegrated into the 1st team is beyond me. Hard to provide evidence for something that was not stated in the 1st place.
As to Sambi himself the fact he chose Palace with presumably easier options on the table speaks to him I believe and the fact Palace wanted him in the 1st place suggests he is not remotely as bad as some would pretend. We’ll see how his Palace loan goes and know more then. If it is that he does well but is still sold ala Willock we still win.
Yes, its common sense to see how he performs, if he get regular game time. I understand Arteta believes the loan could bring him on.
Lonkango could well be a late starter, he had easier opportunities to hone is skills else where.
But he chooses to do it under the tutelage at one of the greats , who has a remarkable understanding of the position he plays in, only time will tell how smart of an idea it was.
Some fans are so anxious not to be seen as being unkind to a poor level player that they lose all sense of reality.
I do not and I SAY LOKONGA IS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE NECESSARY GRADE WITH US EVER. The best we can hope for is that he fetches SOME sort of fee when his Palace loan is done.
Which is IMO exactly what will happen.