Arsenal's conveyor belt of youngsters has provided a number of valuable first-team players to the club and developed valuable assets over the years.
Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah have made nearly 400 appearances between them at the Emirates Stadium while the likes of Serge Gnabry, Emiliano Martinez and Wojciech Szczesny have all enjoyed success since being sold elsewhere.
Performances domestically and in Europe are the priority for Arsenal but building and maintaining a strong youth academy with individuals ready for first team inclusion on a yearly basis is crucial.
READ MORE: Arsenal make Charlie Patino decision as Champions League reality and Declan Rice aims emerge
Arsenal have made their fair share of mistakes when it comes to transfers. Allowing Gnabry to leave for Bayern Munich in 2017 was poor business and the decision over Folarin Balogun's future in the summer could be another.
But with over a month until the summer transfer window opens, the Gunners could be about to make another error. It has been reported that highly-rated midfielder Charlie Patino will leave the club on a permanent basis this summer in search of first-team minutes.
Patino's contract was extended until 2025 after the Gunners opted to activate an option in his contract, but he faces an uphill battle to feature in Mikel Arteta's plans next season. According to The Athletic, the club will help facilitate a move amid interest from UK and Europe - with Barcelona expressing interest last year.
It wouldn't be the first time that Arsenal have allowed a promising midfielder to leave either. USMNT star Yunus Musah was sold to Valencia in 2019 for similar reasons - lack of first-team minutes - and has since enjoyed an upwards trajectory in his development.
Fast forward four years and the ex-Gunner is being linked with a move back to London Colney. That's according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who claims that Arsenal have been scouting Musah over a potential summer return, but face competition from Chelsea and Inter Milan.
“I’ve mentioned Arsenal and Chelsea’s interest in Yunus Musah and it is the case that they are following Musah since January; Inter as well,” he said.
“At the moment it’s just scouting and not advanced yet, but Musah has good chances to move this summer.”
Musah is valued €35m ($38.6m) by CIES Football Observatory and it's understood that Valencia will demand close to €40m ($44m) for his signature in the summer.
With Arsenal keen to bolster Arteta's midfield in the summer, Musah is likely to be a name mentioned quite often throughout the transfer window. But there is a feeling surrounding Patino's imminent exit that Arsenal have been here before.
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