Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Arsenal plan to insert a buy-back option into any sale of young midfielder Charlie Patino this summer.
Patino has spent this season on loan at Championship side Blackpool, and has had mixed success at Bloomfield Road.
The 19-year-old started the campaign as a key member of the side under Michael Appleton, and scored in a 4-2 Lancashire derby win over Preston North End in October.
He then dropped out of the team following Mick McCarthy’s appointment, and was shown two yellow cards during a 2-1 defeat to Swansea in February.
Patino then had a strong end to the season by starting each of Blackpool’s final four games, but could not help the Tangerines to avoid relegation.
There have been signs of progression throughout the campaign for the youngster, however, particularly in terms of his physicality, and he will return to the Emirates Stadium this summer.
How long his Arsenal stay lasts, however, is unclear. The Athletic claim that Patino wants to leave the club in the upcoming window, as he does not want to go back out on loan.
Now, Romano has given an update on the Gunners’ stance.
Romano issues Patino transfer update
Taking to Twitter, Romano wrote: “Understand Arsenal will try to include a buy back clause into negotiations for Charlie Patino to keep control on the player for the future.
“Patino, set to leave the club as he will try new chapter on permanent deal but Arsenal hope to include an option into the deal.”
The midfielder is highly rated amongst Gunners academy coaches, and is seen as one of the graduates from Hale End with the most potential in recent years.
In an interview with football.london in 2021, former Arsenal scout Brian Stapleton explained how he found Patino – and his first impressions.
He said: “Of all the years I’ve been scouting, he’s the best kid I’ve ever seen. I got a tip off about Charlie from a guy, so I went over there and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
“He was 11 and I think he was playing in the Under-13s, and I was like, ‘Wow’. His first touch was unbelievable, his vision, his awareness, his space. He was way above his years, he was on another planet to anyone else on the pitch.”