Juventus apparently want to give Arsenal Weston McKennie in order to sign Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Juventus' US midfielder Weston McKennie warms up prior to the Italian Serie A football match between Torino and Juventus on October 15, 2022 at the Olympic stadium in Turin. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)
Juventus’ US midfielder Weston McKennie warms up prior to the Italian Serie A football match between Torino and Juventus on October 15, 2022 at the Olympic stadium in Turin. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

According to a report from Italy, Max Allegri would quite like to get his hands on Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Allegri, the report claims, not only wants Lokonga, he wants to get rid of Weston McKennie and the grand plan is that the American will be offered as a swap.

This would be a good deal for Arsenal, the report continues, because McKennie has a higher value.

Swap deals used to be quite rare in football but they are becoming more common. That being said, that doesn’t mean there is anything to this.

Sure, Juventus could well fancy Lokonga, but is Mikel Arteta interested in getting rid of him?

Looking through comments Arteta has made about Lokonga during his time at the club, it is clear Arsenal brought him to the club with a view of developing him.

Arsenal's Belgian midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga looks on during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on April 16, 2022. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Belgian midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga looks on during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, southern England on April 16, 2022. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking at the start of the year, Arteta said, “I think he is growing, he is playing better and better.

“I think he had a really good game the other day against Liverpool, his understanding of the game, he is managing the physicality much better, he is maturing. It’s a lot to ask.

“When we signed him, the expectation that we had for him in the first year was to start adapting but he has had to play many more minutes than we expected and the kid is trying his best, and I think he’s doing pretty well.”

This is also not the first time Juventus have been reportedly interested in giving Arsenal Weston McKennie for a midfielder out of North London.

Last September, it was being reported they wanted to swap him for Granit Xhaka.

The young Belgian was spoke recently about how annoyed he is at his international situation but has no such gripe about his time with Arsenal.