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Charles Watts reports that Arsenal have now officially triggered the contract extension clause in Charlie Patino’s deal. The midfielder’s contract was set to expire in the summer, but it will now last until 2025, with no change in his salary or bonuses.
Watts adds that talks will now have to take place over a new and improved long-term deal amid widespread interest from elsewhere.
The Athletic had reported earlier this week that Arsenal were expected to activate the two-year option in Patino’s current deal. It seems that’s now happened.
Daniel Matthews of the Daily Mail added that formal talks over a new long-term deal have yet to start properly.
Patino is currently on loan with Blackpool, which perhaps makes contract talks a little more complicated.
Despite an injury setback early on in that loan spell, Patino has had a positive few months with the Championship side so far.
The 19-year-old has made 18 appearances in all competitions, scoring a couple of goals and providing a couple of assists from midfield.
Blackpool have had real problems as a team, dropping into the relegation zone. But Patino has been a bright spark on an individual basis, and Blackpool boss Michael Appleton is clearly happy with how he’s adapting to senior football.
“I’d like to think progression-wise he’s learnt a lot,” Appleton said. “He’s certainly developed already in a short space of time.
“There’s parts of his game that people probably questioned – even at a very young age – whether he could cope with it, and obviously the physicality side of it was probably one. I think he’s dealt with that really, really well.
“I think he is far more competitive than what people give him credit for. He’s had to play in two or three different positions and had two or three different roles in terms of what we want from him. He’s enjoyed that, he’s stepped up and taken the responsibility at a very young age.
“I think both ourselves and Arsenal are delighted with Charlie. I think Charlie is in a good place and he’s looking forward to the games coming up.”
David Ornstein had initially broken the news that Patino’s contract expires in the summer, that Arsenal had a two-year option to extend, and that the Gunners were yet to open contract talks.
That was back in October, with Ornstein adding that the midfielder is generating interest from elsewhere in England and beyond.
Arsenal also have a recall clause in Patino’s loan deal for January, though the Gunners seemingly have no plans to activate it. The spell away in Blackpool appears to be going well for all parties.
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