Transfer Talk: Barca want to snap up Arsenal whizkid Patino

Barcelona are lining up Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino as their next midfield maestro.

The highly-rated playmaker, 19, has been impressing on loan with Championship Blackpool this season and his stock continues to rise.

Barca are keen to snap him up on a free transfer when his contract runs out next summer, according to Calciomercato.

Patino counts Camp Nou legend Andres Iniesta among his idols and holds a Spanish passport through his dad Jules.

The Gunners ace has so far only represented England at youth level but Spain have made attempts to get him to switch allegiance — a case that would be strengthened should he move to LaLiga.

Budding star Patino scored on his Arsenal debut in a 5-1 Carabao Cup rout of Sunderland last December but played just once more for the Gunners.

The holding midfielder has since racked up 16 first-team appearances for the Tangerines — scoring twice and providing two assists.

Arsenal will be desperate to get his contract situation resolved soon as foreign clubs will likely be queuing up alongside Barca to offer him terms in January ahead of a summer move if his deal is not extended. 

In other news

Reports in Italy suggest Inter Milan and Juventus are chasing Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante, whose contract runs out at the end of the season, for a cut-price £18million in January.

Arsenal target Mykhaylo Mudryk told Ukrainian outlet Sport Arena he is "wounded" by the £86m price tag Shakhtar Donetsk are demanding to let him leave.

Liverpool and Juventus are keeping tabs on Mason Mount with Chelsea not yet able to agree an extension with their academy star, claim The Guardian.