Arsenal have yet to open talks over a new contract for midfield starlet Charlie Patino, according to a report.
The 18-year-old has emerged as one of the brightest talents in the Hale End academy since leaving Luton Town to join the Gunners' youth setup in 2015.
Patino earned numerous plaudits for his performances at Under-18 and Under-21 level before making the step-up to senior football in the 2021-22 season under Mikel Arteta.
The Englishman scored on his debut for the club against Sunderland in the EFL Cup before making his first senior start in a 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Patino was then left out of Arsenal's pre-season squad for their tour of the USA to seal a loan move to Blackpool, where he has already cemented himself as a first-team regular.
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The teenager has one goal to boast from nine appearances for the Championship club and has started each of their last four second-tier games after overcoming an ankle injury.
Arsenal only have Patino under contract until the summer of 2023, but the Gunners do possess the option to trigger a two-year extension rather than negotiate a new deal.
However, The Athletic states that Arsenal are yet to enter discussions with Patino over his future, and the two-year clause must be activated before an unnamed date in the coming months.
Should the deadline pass without an extension, Patino would be free to leave Arsenal at the end of the season if no new contract can be agreed with the Premier League leaders.
The report adds that Patino remains happy at Arsenal, but other clubs in England and abroad have taken notice of his rise and could look to snap him up as a free agent.
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Rather than trigger the two-year extension, Arsenal could supposedly try to agree fresh terms with the 18-year-old in order to reward him for his performances out on loan.
Gunners staff were in attendance to watch Patino play the full 90 minutes and impress in Saturday's 3-1 win over Watford, and Arsenal are not expected to exercise their option to recall the England Under-20 international in January.
While contract talks for Patino are yet to begin, Arteta has confirmed that the club are trying to tie three other youngsters in Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba and Bukayo Saka down to new contracts.
"Obviously, we have to plan for the future and we are all working on it," Arteta told reporters ahead of last week's Europa League win over Bodo/Glimt.
"Edu is on top of it and all of the board and we'll try to do things in the right way, being fair, and trying to plan the best possible way and reward the players that in our opinion have a big future for the club. When we have something to announce, we will do that."
Arsenal will aim to record back-to-back wins over Bodo/Glimt when they travel to Norway on Thursday, while Patino and Blackpool are next in action against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Saturday.
Ben Knapton
