ALBERT LOK-S LIKE ANOTHER CONOR

PATRICK Vieira is convinced Albert Sambi Lokonga can be his new Conor Gallagher.

The Crystal Palace boss revealed a phone call with former Arsenal team-mate Edu convinced him to strike a lastgasp deadline day loan deal.

The 23-year-old Belgian international was one of two late January arrivals at Selhurst Park alongside Stuttgart star Naouirou Ahamada.

And Vieira (inset) has already confirmed both new boys will be involved at Manchester United this afternoon.

Steve Parish and Vieira have been tracking Lokonga’s development since his Anderlecht days but it was a telephone conversation with Arsenal’s sporting director Edu that enticed Palace into a deal.

Vieira revealed: “I spoke with Edu and he really gave me the full picture of the player in terms of his character both on and off the field.

“We always want to know what kind of players we are signing and now we also know what side of the game he needs to improve.

“Conor’s loan here helps our case when signing players on loan. What’s important for him is to play more games. We will give him that opportunity but he will have to work hard.”

Ready

Palace tactician Vieira is also ready to throw 20-year-old €10.8m signing Ahamada in at the deep end at Old Trafford if required — due to his experience playing in two foreign countries.

Ahamada learned his trade as part of Juventus’ academy before moving to Germany with Stuttgart, where he played in front of 50,000 supporters on a weekly basis.

For that reason, Vieira does not expect his new acquisition to be phased by the prospect of locking horns with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in the middle of the park.

“He’s been used to challenges and travelling around from a young age so the adaptation will be quick for him,” Vieira added.