Luton Town are reportedly giving serious consideration to terminating the loan of Albert Sambi Lokonga from Arsenal during the January transfer window.
The 28-year-old has failed to make the desired impact at Kenilworth Road since securing a temporary switch from Mikel Arteta's Gunners in the summer.
Lokonga has featured in just four top-flight matches for the Hatters due to a serious hamstring injury suffered in the closing stages of September.
The midfielder made his return to competitive action on December 10 as Rob Edwards's side lost to Manchester City, before starting the eventually-abandoned match at Bournemouth last weekend.
According to TEAMtalk, Luton are exploring their options in terms of loan deals for the January transfer window, which could see Lokonga return to the Emirates Stadium.
© Reuters
The report claims that the Hatters have been content with their engine-room ranks despite the absence of the Belgian over the past few months, with the likes of Marvelous Nakamba, Tahith Chong and Ross Barkley taking centre stage.
It is understood that the Kenilworth Road club could opt to send Lokonga back to North London in the New Year in order to recruit a loan player in another position.
Due to the Premier League's loan rules, Luton would be unable to bring in another player on a temporary deal from a club in the English top flight should they not offload the Belgian.
Edwards's men have supposedly been inundated with loan opportunities ahead of the January transfer window, but it remains to be seen whether the Hatters will call time on Lokonga's spell in Bedfordshire as a result.
The one-time Belgium international joined Arsenal from Anderlecht in the summer of 2021 for £17.2m but has been unable to cement a place in Arteta's first-team thinking.
© Reuters
Kai Havertz's and Declan Rice's arrivals from Chelsea and West Ham United respectively ahead of the 2023-24 campaign further decreased Lokonga's chances of gametime, hence a switch to newly-promoted Luton.
Selhurst Park and Crystal Palace welcomed the 24-year-old for a brief stint during the second half of last season, however he only managed nine appearances for the Eagles.
With a midfield consisting of Havertz, Rice and playmaker Martin Odegaard currently battling for the Premier League title at Arsenal, it is understood that another temporary move away from the Emirates would be on the cards for Lokonga should he return from Luton.
The Hatters welcome top-four chasing Newcastle United to Kenilworth Road on Saturday afternoon, looking to close the five-point gap between themselves and 17th-placed Nottingham Forest in the top-flight standings.
Carter White
