Arsenal could get huge favour from Man City icon as Mikel Arteta aims to topple Guardiola

Arsenal’s hopes of raising funds to make key signings this summer could be about to be boosted by former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany. The Belgian has been confirmed as the new manager of Bayern Munich, and has immediately set his sights on bringing players into the club after the German giants finished empty handed in the 2023/24 season.

Kompany is perceived to have been a surprise choice for Bayern having failed to keep Burnley in the Premier League last season, but has agreed a contract through to June 2027.

And he’s immediately been linked with two players currently in north London, both of whom the 38-year-old will be familiar with.

According to the Mirror, Bayern are planning a double swoop for Oleksandr Zinchenko and Albert Sambi Lokonga. With Bayern left back Alphonso Davies rumoured to be heading to Real Madrid, the purchase of Zinchenko would provide vital cover at left back for the Bundesliga side.

The 27-year-old previously played alongside Kompany at Manchester City, before leaving for Arsenal in the summer of 2022. But his future at the Emirates has been questioned after losing his first team place to Takehiro Tomiyasu at the tail-end of last season.

Midfielder Lokonga, meanwhile, spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Luton. And in an interview with VOOsport in May, the Belgian international revealed that he and the club had come to a mutual agreement that he would move on. “I had a discussion with the club and what was said is that the best solution for me was to leave,” he said.

Lokonga joined Arsenal in 2021 after four years at Anderlecht, where he played under Kompany. He proceeded to make 39 appearances in his first two years in England, but spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Crystal Palace before heading on another temporary move to Luton.

He impressed at the Hatters in the final weeks, despite the club joining Burnley and Sheffield United in being relegated. But Mikel Arteta has been linked with a string of other midfielders in the upcoming transfer window, with the £17.2million signing now seemingly surplus to requirements.

A double sale to Bayern would also boost Arsenal’s ambitions to strengthen their own squad after again missing out on the Premier League title. The Gunners finished second behind Man City for the second consecutive season, and are again out to bolster their squad in a bid to finally overhaul Pep Guardiola’s team.

Lokonga currently has two years left on his deal, so his current club are in a strong position to command a fee that suits them. Zinchenko, who signed for a £30million fee, is also contracted until 2026.

The transfer window for English clubs opens on June 14. However, Bayern and fellow German top-flight sides will be forced to wait until July 1 until being cleared to make new signings.