ARSENAL and England are facing a fight to hold onto rising star Charlie Patino, according to reports.
The 18-year-old scored on his Gunners debut last December in the 5-1 League Cup win over Sunderland.
Patino went on to play a second time for Arsenal last term but was a part of a side that fell to a 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest.
The England youth star was then shipped out on loan to Championship side Blackpool to help with his development – and it has done just that.
Patino has played nine times for Blackpool this term and has started their last four league games.
He has impressed playing in a No8 role and is extremely popular at Bloomfield Road.
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Despite impressing, Patino faces an uncertain future with Arsenal, with his contract expiring next summer, according to The Athletic.
The Gunners do have a two-year option to extend, however that needs to be exercised prior to a set date in the months ahead and talks are yet to take place.
Should Arsenal fail to meet the date, the option will expire and they would have to renegotiate with Patino.
And should he decide to leave the Emirates he wouldn’t be short of options.
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England are also facing a fight to keep Patino.
The England U20s star holds a Spanish passport via his father and he was monitored by scouts during the last international break.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
