Considering Kroenke Sports & Entertainment have been looking to expand Arsenal’s scouting network across North America in recent months, it wouldn't come as a surprise to see more talents from the MLS follow Matt Turner and Auston Trusty through the door in the years ahead.
A number of young players from KSE-owned Colorado Rapids, as well as Toronto FC’s Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, have previously been offered trials with the Gunners as attempts are made to strengthen links to advancing markets around the world.
Speaking to The Arsenal Way back in February, MLS expert and reporter Tom Bogert claimed that the club’s strategy is focused on bringing in emerging talent rather than more established names when utilising the American market.
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“They (Arsenal) are definitely keeping eyes on the league,” Tom said. “I know from all the scouts and European club executives that I talk to, they prefer to get players in at Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty’s age, he’s 17 turns 18 in the summer rather than Matt Turner at 28 or even Auston Trusty at 23.”
Tom then included former FC Dallas and current Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie as an example when explaining why the MLS has become a popular league for scouts, saying that clubs such as Arsenal are noticing the progress many players are making after joining big teams in Europe.
Interestingly, McKennie now finds himself linked with a move to the Gunners for the second time in a year. Reports surfaced last September which claimed that Juventus were interested in swapping the USMNT star for Granit Xhaka, who was attracting attention from Serie A rivals AS Roma at the time.
Fast forward to today, Calciomercato is reporting that the Bianconeri have shifted their attention and are now contemplating a move for Albert Sambi Lokonga, with McKennie offered in the other direction once again.
Although it wouldn’t fit in with the club’s strategy of recruiting directly from the MLS, Arsenal would likely view a move for McKennie as a step in the right direction when it comes to boosting their image in the states and gaining an increased following as a result.
They’d also be getting a talented, more established player with a much higher valuation than that of Lokonga. According to CIES Football Observatory, McKennie is worth up to £43.5million, whereas Lokonga is only valued at up to £17.4million.
It remains to be seen whether the links develop into anything more serious, although much of it could depend on Lokonga’s progress in north London this season. Recently speaking to La Derniere Heure, the Belgian international admitted that his first year at Arsenal was hard but reiterated his desire to improve amid speculation over a loan move in the summer.
“It’s a personal decision (to stay), I wanted to give myself another year to stay at Arsenal and then see what happens,” he said. “I think I have the qualities to succeed here. Last season, I didn’t perform at my best level. I still have things to prove.
“At the end of last season, I almost snapped. I called my agent to ask him if staying at Arsenal was a good idea. He comforted me in my choice, even though I know I need to start more often to develop.”
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