Italian giants Juventus and Roma are supposedly preparing to go head-to-head for the signature of a 20-year-old Arsenal midfielder facing an uncertain future this summer.
A couple of years ago, Charlie Patino was hailed as one of the most highly-rated products to emerge from the Gunners' Hale End academy, and he was quickly promoted to first-team training under Mikel Arteta.
The England Under-21 international's first-team debut was a dream one too, as he came off the bench and scored in a 5-1 EFL Cup crushing of Sunderland at the Emirates in December 2021.
Patino was subsequently handed his first Arsenal start in an FA Cup loss to Nottingham Forest a month later, completing 69 minutes of that contest, but he has not made another first-team appearance for the Gunners since.
Productive loan spells with Blackpool and Swansea City have followed for the midfielder, who has scored four goals and set up four more in 34 games for the latter, but minutes have been hard to come by in 2024.
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Patino to leave Arsenal this summer?
Patino has not started a Championship game since a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on New Year's Day, and he is remarkably yet to complete the full 90 minutes in the current second-tier campaign.
The 20-year-old will return to the Emirates when the season reaches its conclusion, and even though Arsenal extended his contract just last year, his terms only run until the end of next season.
According to Calciomercato, Patino has no intention of continuing in North London under Arteta, who supposedly does not have a place for him in his plans for the 2024-25 season.
As a result, the England youth international will be on the lookout for a new challenge in the summer window, and the idea of playing in Italy supposedly fascinates him.
Both Juventus and Roma could therefore make a move for the former Luton Town youngster, who joined the Gunners' academy in 2015, but he is now seemingly ready to end his nine-year stint in North London.
Patino one of five midfielders to leave Arsenal?
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Patino's proposed exit from Arsenal may lead to a few groans among Gooners, who had extremely high hopes for the 20-year-old, but his struggles to earn starts in the Championship do not bode well for his top-flight career.
The Swansea loanee is not the only Gunners midfielder in the departure lounge, though, as four of his fellow lynchpins could also head for the Emirates exit door in the upcoming window.
Mohamed Elneny and Jorginho are both out of contract at the end of June, and discussions to extend the latter's contract - which already includes an option for 2025 - are yet to lead to an agreement.
Thomas Partey's deal only runs for just over 12 months too, while Emile Smith Rowe - another frequent occupant of the treatment room - is likely to be the subject of summer bids as well.
In terms of possible engine room incomings, Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi and Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes are seen as prime candidates for the number six position, allowing Declan Rice to continue in his effective role further forward.
