AS Roma have made contact with Arsenal over Albert Sambi Lokonga following an injury to Georginio Wijnaldum, according to a report.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA: Albert Sambi Lokonga of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the Florida Cup match against Chelsea at Camping World Stadium on July 23, 2022. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA: Albert Sambi Lokonga of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his side’s fourth goal during the Florida Cup match against Chelsea at Camping World Stadium on July 23, 2022. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Sky Sport Italia journalist Massimo Marianella reports (via RomaPress) that AS Roma have made contract with Arsenal over Albert Sambi Lokonga.

The Serie A side have enquired for Lokonga following an injury to Georginio Wijnaldum, who is expected to miss three or four months of action.

Roma are also interested in Olympiacos’ Mady Camara for a loan with an option to buy, but Lokonga is clearly an alternative option on their shortlist.

Personally, I wouldn’t expect this enquiry to lead anywhere, for a number of reasons.

For a start, Arsenal loaned Ainsley Maitland-Niles to AS Roma under Jose Mourinho in the January transfer window, and Mourinho largely froze the midfielder out.

Loaning Mourinho another midfielder feels like a failure to learn a lesson.

as roma v us lecce coppa italia 1
ROME, ITALY: Ainsley Maitland-Niles of AS Roma looks on during the warm-up before the Coppa Italia match between AS Roma and US Lecce at Stadio Olimpico on January 20, 2022. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Then there’s the fact that Arsenal aren’t exactly stocked with endless midfielders right now.

It’s true that Lokonga may initially struggle for minutes behind Granit Xhaka, but when the fixtures are coming thick and fast in October there will be plenty of minutes for the Belgian.

On top of all that, sources in Belgium and England have consistently suggested that Lokonga is clear that he wants to stay at Arsenal this season and Mikel Arteta believes in him.

Lokonga made 23 appearances for Arsenal in his debut campaign, 16 of which were starts, despite having established and experienced midfielders ahead of him.

At 22 years old, the Belgium international will hope this is just the start of a long career with the Gunners.