Arsenal risk repeating their past transfer mistakes by letting Charlie Patino leave this summer.
According to The Athletic, the Gunners are set to let Patino leave permanently this summer, with the club accepting his wish to pursue a regular first-team start.
The 19-year-old spent the season on loan at Blackpool and impressed despite the club's season eventually ending in relegation.
While Arsenal have activated the option to extend Patino's contract until 2025, he is unlikely to feature in Mikel Arteta's plans due to the Gunners' desire to sign a top midfielder this summer.
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After friendly talks with the club, Patino will no longer want to be loaned out and is said to be ready to pursue his career elsewhere. The player, who has made two appearances since joining Arsenal from Luton Town at the age of 11, has attracted interest at home and abroad.
Arsenal's transfer error
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There is always a risk when a club lets a young player go. Indeed, in the past, Arsenal let academy prospects go too soon.
The most notable example is Ismael Bennacer, who was at Arsenal between 2015 and 2017 but made just one first team appearance.
After an initial defeat in north London, the Algerian midfielder was sold to Empoli for just 880,000, before being snapped up by AC Milan in 2019 in a deal worth 14m. Bennacer has since become a central link in the Rossoneri's midfield, making 142 appearances for the club and was key in helping the team win the Scudetto last year.
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Arsenal's decision to let Bennacer leave could cost them dearly in the long run.
Last month, CalcioMercatoWeb announced (via Football365) that Arsenal are looking to re-sign Bennacer and could even try to lure Milan into a sale by offering Folarin Balogun as part of a swap deal.
Bennacer signed a four-and-a-half-year contract at Milan in January, and according to Transfermakrt, his market value currently stands at 35 million (40 million).
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