Recent reports suggest that Serie A giants Juventus are keen to sign Arsenal star Charlie Patino.
Patino is currently on loan at Swansea City and has scored three goals and four assists in 17 appearances this season.
In Italy, Patino is rumoured to be a potential heavyweight in two unlikely swap deals, with Salernitana’s Boulaye Dia and Juventus’ Moise Kean mentioned as potential strikers who could go to the Emirates in return.
Charlie Patino has been mentioned as more expensive ahead of a possible swap
Italian market broker Michele Fratini now claims that Arsenal are asking around £25.8 million for Patino, but could go as high as £17 million if bonuses are included in the Keane swap deal.
“Patino? Somehow he’s in all the notebooks, among the 50 strongest young footballers in the world. I don’t know if Rabiot will stay at Juve,” he said via Tuttojuve.
“Patino is a left-footed player like him and Giuntoli wants to bring in the strongest talents to ensure quality in the middle of the park. As for the price, the gunners are asking for around €30 million, maybe €20 million fixed price with €10 million in bonuses.
“But Juventus have some bargaining chips, especially Moise Keane. It’s true that his first experience in the Premier League at Everton didn’t work out so well, but he is now recovering and could be the striker Arsenal are looking for to complete their attacking department. Juve would like to make an attack as early as January.”
Arsenal should not swap Charlie Patin for Moise Keane:
Kean has not scored in 12 appearances this season and the striker struggled at Everton before returning to Italy. Although Arsenal have been linked with several centre-forwards, they may be more keen to add a successful goalscorer to their squad than someone in poor form like the 23-year-old.
Patino is highly regarded at the Emirates, although competition for places in Arsenal’s central attack means that his departure cannot be ruled out.
Next season could be decisive for his chances under Mikel Arteta, but for now it would be most likely that he completes his loan period at Swansea and returns for pre-season in the summer.
Arsenal can only consider a bid for the Hale End gem if he bids for the transfer himself and receives a big offer. Juventus are unlikely to meet the asking price without a replacement and Kean is not a player Arteta would be interested in.