Catalan giants Barcelona are reportedly contemplating signing 19-year-old Arsenal whizkid Charlie Patino next year.
According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercato.it, Charlie Patino is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The Catalan giants are considering signing the 19-year-old whizkid from Arsenal in the 2023 summer transfer window.
Charlie Patino is a native of Hertfordshire in England and started his youth career with St. Albans City in his hometown. And after a short stint with Luton Town, the English prodigy joined Arsenal in 2015. The young midfielder grew leaps and bounds at the Hale End academy before turning professional a couple of years ago.
The 19-year-old made his first-team debut for Arsenal as a 17-year-old in December 2020. But he is yet to establish a foothold in the first-team squad at the Emirates and is currently on loan at Blackpool. And Patino is enjoying a solid campaign, chipping in with two goals and two assists in 16 appearances. Meanwhile, the player’s progress has captured the attention of Barcelona.
Barcelona will likely enter the market for a midfield reinforcement in the 2023 summer transfer window. With Sergio Busquets’s performance levels drastically plummeting, the Catalan giants need a succession plan for the veteran. Several midfielders have thus emerged on Barcelona’s radar, including Guido Rodriguez.
But while Guido Rodriguez might fill Busquets’s void, Barcelona might still have to sign another midfielder next summer. That is because Franck Kessie faces an uncertain future at Camp Nou after failing to become a regular thus far this season. While the Ivory Coast international’s agent has denied exit rumours, speculation continues to be rife.
Recent reports have suggested that Barcelona might look to offer Kessie in a swap deal to sign Douglas Luiz. But Charlie Patino is also a viable target for the Blaugrana. Meanwhile, the report claims that the Arsenal whizkid views Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta as his idol.
Barcelona might look to tempt the 19-year-old to move to Camp Nou, considering he is yet to establish a foothold at Arsenal. But the Gunners consider Patino to be a potential long-term midfield solution. So they might fight tooth and nail to keep hold of the teenage prodigy beyond the summer transfer window.
