09 August 2023 , 22:10
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Arsenal midfielder Charlie Patino is set to join Championship side Swansea City on loan, despite preferring a permanent move.
Despite Blackpool suffering relegation to league one last season, Patino impressed during his time on loan at Bloomfield Road and saw Arsenal activate an option to extend his contract until 2025.
The 19-year-old has made two senior appearances for the Gunners, scoring on his debut against Sunderland in December 2021 as manager Mikel Arteta hailed the "beautiful moment". However, he also warned about expecting too much too soon from Patino, stating: "I think that is very positive [that the fans were singing his name]. They heard about him and know what he can become and now we have to cook him slowly. Today was a good start, I think.
“[Too much expectation around him] is what we have to avoid. He still has a lot of competition in front of him. He is really young. And he needs to go step by step. Today he was lucky, he got the opportunity and he took it really well.”
The Athletic reported earlier this summer that Patino was 'expected to leave the Emirates Stadium on a permanent basis' amid interest from several clubs both in the UK and abroad. The report stated that Patino did not want to 'make another temporary move from Arsenal and is prepared to pursue his career elsewhere'.
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With Arsenal set to mount another Premier League title challenge as well as returning to the Champions League, Arteta has strengthened his midfield options significantly with the additions of Declan Rice from West Ham and Kai Havertz from Chelsea.
As a result, it was unlikely Patino would get many first-team opportunities at Arsenal and it was claimed the club were 'receptive to his desire' to leave. However, the situation has now changed.
Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino is set to join Swansea on loan (PA)BBC Sport Wales state the teenager is now set to join Swansea on a season-long loan, where he will link up with former Blackpool teammate Jerry Yates. He will become the club's seventh major signing this summer under new boss Michael Duff.
Swansea have already signed Yates, Mykola Kukharevych, Josh Key, Josh Ginnelly, Carl Rushworth and Harrison Ashby and Duff teased the addition of Patino following his side's 3-0 win over Northampton Town in the League Cup.
"We think there's one coming in," Duff told the BBC. "There has been a yes in terms of an agreement. It will be a loan. We are hoping it will be done by the weekend but there's a few technical issues."