Real Sociedad’s interest in acquiring the services of teenage midfield sensation Charlie Patino could help Arsenal fulfil their desire to sign Martin Zubimendi.
According to a report by Fichajes, Real Sociedad are keen on having Charlie Patino in their ranks. The 19-year-old sensation has been on fire of late and his performances haven’t gone unnoticed. The La Liga outfit’s sporting director Roberto Olabe has his eyes set on signing the Arsenal prodigy.
Patino joined the Arsenal youth academy back in 2015. He has since gone up the ranks and has been a part of the Arsenal Under-21 setup of late. He spent the last season out on loan at Blackpool. And, currently, he is out on loan at Swansea.
The 19-year-old midfielder has featured in nine Championship matches this season and has contributed towards four goals. His impressive performances have attracted a lot of attention and one of the clubs keen on having him in their ranks is Real Sociedad.
The La Liga outfit are well aware of the amount of interest in their star midfielder Martin Zubimendi. And, there is a release clause in his contract that could lead to his departure. As a result, they are looking for potential options to replace him in the centre of the park. Their sporting director Olabe feels Patino could be a great option to reinforce their midfield.
Patino’s contract runs out in the summer of 2025 which could open the door for the Spanish club to negotiate with Arsenal next summer. Meanwhile, the Gunners are one of the clubs that have been interested in Zubimendi for a while now.
They showcased interest in triggering the release clause of Zubimendi worth €60 million last winter. The London club are still interested in the 24-year-old and could use Sociedad’s interest in Patino to lower the asking price. In such a situation both clubs could reach a common ground to satisfy their transfer goals.
Patino’s arrival at Sociedad will help them cope with the absence of Zubimendi. He is versatile in nature and can feature multiple roles in the centre of the park. As a result, the Spanish club’s midfield will surely be bolstered. Meanwhile, Arsenal will be able to get their hands on a world-class defensive midfielder who could help them win major trophies.
