Arsenal can offer Eberechi Eze dream shirt number thanks to £34m transfer

Arsenal can offer Eberechi Eze his preferred shirt number should they be able to agree a summer deal Crystal Palace. The Gunners have identified Eze as their latest target following the completion of Viktor Gyokeres' £63.7million transfer, which brought an end to the protracted pursuit of the striker. Mikel Arteta remains determined to strengthen his squad after another disappointing title challenge last season.

Arsenal have already invested nearly £200m on midfield duo Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera and new striker Gyokeres. Eze has regularly impressed during his spell at Palace, recording 25 goal contributions last term, including the decisive strike in the club's maiden FA Cup victory.

The attacking midfielder has worn the No. 10 jersey for the majority of his career, a squad number that Arsenal have left vacant since Arteta permitted Emile Smith Rowe's £34m switch to Fulham last summer.

When previously questioned about his disappointment over Smith Rowe's exit, the Arsenal manager admitted: "A lot. When I had the talk with Emile, I really felt it. First of all because I have huge gratitude because he came into the team at a tough moment.

"I think he was the player that made our supporters and the team click, in a way. I don't know how to explain it but that was my feeling. Something changed when he came in the team. He created a different energy straight away. And I have a feeling like, 'argh', that I have not got the best out of him. Obviously a lot of things happened in that time.

"From my side it was really sad, because I know how those boys feel when they are in that building, how hard everyone works to get them close to the first team, so I feel a huge responsibility to give them the chance. And now, can they sustain this level and make us better? That is the idea."

The Gunners initiated discussions regarding a potential transfer for Eze last month. The 27-year-old possesses a £68m release clause within his contract, though Arsenal are targeting a deal closer to the £60m figure.

The club contemplated including Reiss Nelson as part of a swap deal, but the midfielder remains a target for Fulham. The available shirt number could help attract Eze, who has served as Palace's No. 10 since 2021 and also sported the identical number during his final two campaigns at QPR.

Arsenal legends including Paul Merson, Dennis Bergkamp and Mesut Ozil have each worn the No.10 jersey. Nevertheless, Palace manager Oliver Glasner has maintained that his squad cannot afford to lose their key performers, despite interest in Eze and skipper Marc Guehi.

"Even though all the players are still here, we haven't made the most of the transfer window so far," Glasner confessed to Austrian media outlet Kronen Zeitung. "I was promised that we would be more active and bring in the new players earlier this year.

"As of now, I have 17 outfield players. I hope we don't lose any more. If that happens and we get four new ones on deadline day like last year, another false start is possible."