There is a strange insistence in the Italian media that Juventus are going to make a move for Charlie Patino, currently on loan at Swansea City from Arsenal.
The young midfielder has long been touted as one of the better prospects coming out from the Gunners academy, with his current temporary stay a chance for him to get some minutes under his belt.
He has been able to do just that away from Arsenal, where he is expected to return at the end of the season, but that hasn’t stopped Michele Fratini, a scout and intermediary, to suggest on air to TV Play that Juventus will make a move at the end of the season.
He said: “I have noticed that Charlie Patino has gone a little down morally lately. He has not raised his level. I wonder if he was already thinking of going to Juventus in January and if he is ready to go in June. Alcaraz is a good player but he is a joker.
“He can stay in front of the defence, play as a midfielder and even as a trequartista in the attacking phase. However, I think Patino is the profile Juventus are waiting for.”
This comes off the back of a few rumours and claims ahead of the January transfer window that Juventus were ready to make some sort of offer to Arsenal for the midfielder despite him being on loan in Wales.
That never came to anything, with the Serie A side turning their attention to a loan for Carlos Alcaraz instead, but with a €49.5m option to buy in the loan, he is widely expected to return to Southampton at the end of the season.
That would leave the door open for a deal for Patino to be struck, once he is back at Arsenal.
