Arsenal are facing interest in Charlie Patino with clubs at home and abroad understood to be interested in luring him away from North London.
What more can be said of Arsenal’s Hale End academy?
Bukayo Saka is an absolute superstar and Emile Smith Rowe will be looking to kick on when he returns from injury.
Add in Eddie Nketiah – as well as the promising talents like Folarin Balogun, Khayon Edwards and Brooke Norton-Cuffy – and Arsenal have real high hopes for their top young talents.
Arsenal are facing interest in Charlie Patino
The focus will still be on keeping some of those exciting young talents though – especially having seen Omari Hutchinson leave the club for Chelsea this summer.
Charlie Patino fits into that category with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, as noted by The Athletic.
Arsenal do have an option to extend Patino’s deal by two years but may look to offer him a more lucrative, longer-term deal to end speculation over his future.
It’s stated that clubs in England and abroad are looking to sign Patino if they receive any encouragement about him leaving Arsenal.
Barcelona were tracking Patino last season according to The Sun and we would guess that the Catalan giants remain keen.
Talks over a new deal are not yet underway, which may give those interested clubs some hope, but Patino is happy with Arsenal.
Patino, 18, has been coming up through the Arsenal ranks since joining from Luton Town in 2015.
Comparisons have been made to fellow former Luton and Arsenal talent Jack Wilshere and Patino made two first-team appearances last season.
The teenager is now out on loan at Championship side Blackpool as he develops under Michael Appleton – the man who also helped Norton-Cuffy at Lincoln City last season.
Branded ‘a joke’ by Rio Ferdinand because he is just so talented, Patino should have a huge future ahead of him – and Arsenal will hope that future is ultimately with them.
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