Arsenal hold talks with Burnley over Albert Sambi Lokonga exit

Burnley are locked in talks with Arsenal over a move for Belgian midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga, 90min understands.

Lokonga joined from Anderlecht in the summer of 2021 for a fee of around for around £18m but has struggled to find his place at the Emirates and ended last season out on loan with Crystal Palace.

Now back with Arsenal, the 23-year-old picked up an injury which prevented him from travelling with the squad for their pre-season campaign, only adding to the frustration surrounding his time in north London.

Arsenal are open to parting ways with Lokonga and sources have confirmed to 90min that Burnley have explored a move for the midfielder.

The newly promoted side are looking to land Lokonga’s signature on a season-long loan deal which would include an obligation for a permanent transfer next summer.

Lokonga has managed 39 appearances for Arsenal but has seen competition for midfield minutes ramped up by the expensive signings of both Declan Rice and Kai Havertz for a combined £170m this summer.

Thomas Partey has also been welcomed back into Arsenal’s squad after initially being given permission to explore interest from Saudi Arabia, while the Gunners remain interested in signing 23-year-old Brazilian Bitello from Gremio.

As a result, Lokonga is one of a handful of first-team players over whom tough decisions will need to be made in the coming weeks.

Striker Folarin Balogun could be sold after a £50m price tag was placed on the United States international’s head, while the likes of Nuno Tavares and Nicolas Pepe are expected to depart.

GREAT NEWS: Superstar has sign two-year sponsorship deal with Burnley FC

Vertu Motors signs two-year sponsorship deal with Burnley FC

Vertu Motors is to be the Official Automotive Retailer Partner for Burnley FC over the next two years.

Bolstering local ties, Vertu Motors has a Land Rover dealership in nearby Nelson and has several other dealership locations across nearby Bolton, Skipton, Bradford, Keighley and Halifax, with the brand’s community ethos showcased during the partnership last season.

Vertu showed its support for the community with a £2,000 donation to Whitehough Outdoor Centre to help with rising energy costs.

Operated by Burnley FC in the Community, the Club’s official charity, the centre offers outdoor education opportunities for young people from disadvantaged communities, people with special educational needs and community groups including former veterans.

Marcus Mellor, head of commercial at Burnley Football Club, said: “We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Vertu Motors for the next two seasons.

“As a football club we’re committed to forming long-standing partnerships with local businesses and strengthening our relationships across the region. Our work with Vertu Motors is a shining example of this.

Robert Forrester, chief executive of Vertu Motors, said: “As a supporter of Burnley Football Club myself, it is wonderful to be partnered with the Club for another two seasons.

We are delighted that they’ve made it back into the Premier League; I’d like to congratulate the Club for an outstanding season.

“To continue our professional relationship, as Burnley Football Club’s Official Automotive Retailer Partner, is fantastic. The promotion and everything that comes with it will certainly raise the profile of the Club, and in turn, help us to further raise awareness of our brand, our dealerships, and our services in the surrounding areas. We feel just as part of the community as the Club and endeavour to continue strengthening our ties local to Turf Moor.”

BREAKING NEWS: Burnley has beat West ham over £17m hard working player from…..

BURNLEY WILLING TO PAY £17M TO BEAT WEST HAM TO TITLE-WINNING ACE

Burnley have no qualms about meeting Feyenoord’s £17 million asking price for Eredivisie winner Quilindschy Hartman as Vincent Kompany’s side look to beat Premier League rivals West Ham United to the left-back.

With frustration growing over a lack of transfer market activity at the London Stadium, the last thing West Ham supporters needed was to hear – from the uber-reliable Fabrizio Romano – that Ajax had hi-jacked David Moyes’ deal for Manchester City whizzkid Celso Borges.

After failing with bids for Connor Gallagher, Joao Palhinha, James Ward-Prowse and co, and with Borges now on his way to Amsterdam, the wait for West Ham’s first signing of the window goes on.

Quilindschy Hartman is unlikely to answer those prayers either.

Burnley lead West Ham in Quilindschy Hartman race

According to the Rotterdam-based publication 1908, Burnley are currently leading their claret-and-blue cousins in the race for Feyenoord’s 21-year-old left-back. The Eredivisie champions had hoped that, by demanding £17 million, they would send Hartman’s suitors running for the hills.

No such luck. It just so happens that Burnley, per 1908, were planning to offer a fee in a similar region for the tattooed wideman.

The Clarets want a new left-back after struggling to agree a deal for Ian Maatsen.

Maatsen shone on loan under Vincent Kompany as Burnley stormed to the Championship title in 2021/22 but appears to have a part to play at parent club Chelsea after impressing Mauricio Pochettino in pre-season.

“He has capacity to play in different areas and we can use in different positions. His performance did not change (depending on where he played). That is what makes us very pleased,” Pochettino says of Maatsen, via Lancs Live.

“We see him with enormous potential for the club.”

1908 add that, while Feyenoord remain confident of keeping academy graduate Hartman, the Dutch U21 international is yet to agree fresh terms at De Kuip.

West Ham, meanwhile, appear unlikely to step up their interest until there is some clarity on the future of Aaron Cresswell. The veteran full-back has been in talks with Wolves but a potential move to Molineux appears to have stalled of late.

NEWS NOW: Burnley has finally agreed to pay over €20m to sign defender as club insist on not reducing the demanded fee

Burnley ready to go over €20m to sign defender – ‘Impossible’ for club to negotiate anything under that

Burnley are ready to pay over €20m for Feyenoord defender Quilindschy Hartman, who are eyeing him as a replacement for Ian Maatsen.

That’s according to 1908.nl, who say Vincent Kompany and co are ready to push forward with a bid after Maatsen returned to Chelsea following his loan spell last season.

They explain that Burnley’s interest has come via Kompany, who was at De Kuip last Sunday for Feyenoord’s clash with Benfica and ‘saw how Hartmann excelled’.

He managed an assist in that game and seemingly caught Kompany’s eye and he has now recommended him to his club.However, Feyenoord do not intend to let one of their key players go easily. They value him at more than €20m this summer, and they feel it’s ‘impossible’ for them enter talks for a figure lower than that amount.

That’s not a problem for Burnley, though, who already had that figure in mind and thus would be willing to pay it if required.

Convincing Feyenoord may be difficult, though, as they don’t want to sell either way and would in fact be planning to try and convince him to stay with a contract extension.

READ ALSO: Burnley appoint experienced coach as new academy chief

Burnley appoint experienced Shrewsbury Town coach as new academy chief

Burnley have appointed experienced coach David Longwell as their new academy manager.

The 49-year-old makes the move to Turf Moor from Shrewsbury Town, where he held the role of first-team coach.

Longwell previously worked north of the border with St Mirren as both academy manager and assistant manager of the first-team.

After 10 years, the Scot then moved to the US to become academy manager of Orlando City and then New York Red Bulls, before moving back to the UK to join Shrewsbury in 2019.

Longwell spent 18 months as the club’s academy boss before again moving into a first-team coaching role in 2020.

Following on from his appointment, Longwell told the club’s official website: “I look forward to building on the club’s rich tradition of developing young talents and contributing to its future success.

“Together with the dedicated academy staff, we will grow and nurture the next generation of football stars at Burnley.”

Longwell’s arrival sees former academy director Paul Jenkins move into a new role, titled director of football development.

Jenkins joined Burnley in 2020 and has spent the last three years working within the club’s academy setup.

With Longwell’s arrival, former Academy Director Paul Jenkins now changes his role at the Club to Director of Football Development.

“I’m pleased to have secured the services of David as our new academy manager,” the former Middlesbrough coach said.

“He has a wealth of experience in working in the academy system both here in the UK, at St Mirren and Shrewsbury, and internationally – with both Orlando City and the Red Bull group.

“He will have every support from ourselves to help him guide the academy into the future in developing both players and staff.”

In a statement, Shrewsbury’s director of football Micky Moore paid tribute to Longwell’s work while with the club.

“David has done a fantastic job building our academy over the past four years,” he said.

“He has an incredible work ethic and I would like to personally thank him for all the help he has given me since I came to the club.

“I just want to wish him all the very best for the future.”