Arsenal hatch transfer plan for 'next Jack Wilshere' after second move fails

Arsenal are ready to part ways with 20-year-old midfielder Charlie Patino, who had previously been dubbed the 'next Jack Wilshere'.

Despite his impressive performances in the Gunners' academy, Patino has struggled to replicate his form during his loan spell at Championship side Swansea. Patino was highly regarded within Arsenal's youth ranks and was expected to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson by breaking into the first team.

After a promising stint at Blackpool, Patino moved to South Wales to further his development. However, he found it difficult to adapt to the physical demands of the Championship and hasn't started a league match since New Year's Day, with manager Luke Williams favouring Matt Grimes, Jay Fulton and Joe Allen.

According to the London Evening Standard, Arsenal are willing to sever ties with Patino permanently due to his frustration over limited opportunities since scoring on his debut against Sunderland in the 2021 Carabao Cup quarter-final. Patino, who holds a Spanish passport through his father, could potentially find a new club in La Liga.

Just a few months ago, he was hopeful of returning to Arsenal at the end of the season to fight for a place in the first team and fulfil his potential as the 'next Wilshere', reports the Express. "It's inspiring to see someone from Arsenal being able to go on loan, make a name for himself and come back and show his qualities at Arsenal because it is a massive club," Patino expressed to the Daily Mail in October.

"Everyone's journey is different. Bukayo Saka went straight from academy to first team, Eddie Nketiah went on a few loans, Emile Smith Rowe went on a few loans, so everyone's journey is different. But ultimately, it's about getting to where you want to get to, and that's the same for me. I want to play in the first team at Arsenal and being here is a massive pathway to help me do that."

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The landscape of competition within the club has shifted notably after 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri inked his first professional deal last month, leaving Arsenal and Patino to ponder what might have been, especially after he impressed Gunners scout Brian Stapleton at the tender age of 11. "Of all the years I've been scouting, he's the best kid I've ever seen," Stapleton, who also spotted Wilshere for Arsenal, revealed to Goal.

"I got a tip-off about Charlie from a guy, so I went over there and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He was 11 and I think he was playing in the under-13s, and I was like 'wow'.

"His first touch was unbelievable, his vision, his awareness of space. He was way above his years, he was on another planet to anyone else on the pitch. I made a phone call to my head of my department at Arsenal at the time, Sean O'Connor. He asked what I thought and I said: 'Well, I'm not coming back again. I don't need to see any more, you need to sign this kid straight away'."