Arsenal are reportedly closing in on the signing of Belgian attacker Leandro Trossard from Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 28-year-old has experienced a public falling-out with Seagulls manager Roberto De Zerbi in recent weeks, and his agent has demanded a move away for his client after alleged "humiliation" from De Zerbi.
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with an interest in Trossard, who is said to have already agreed personal terms with Arsenal on a long-term contract.
Following the Joao Felix and Mykhaylo Mudryk sagas, Arsenal fans will not be holding their breath while Chelsea lurk in the background, but Mikel Arteta's side could supposedly wrap up a deal for Trossard within the coming hours.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at which shirt numbers Trossard could take at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal work to close a £27m deal.
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Since swapping Genk for the Amex Stadium in 2019, Trossard has held the number 11 jersey for the past four seasons, but there is little chance of the Belgian wrestling that jersey off of its current incumbent at Arsenal.
Indeed, Gabriel Martinelli is in possession of the number 11 and will not be letting go as Arsenal try to tie him down to a new long-term deal, but the '17' that Trossard dons for Belgium could soon be an option.
Cedric Soares is Arsenal's number 17 at the moment - which was previously worn by Edu, Emmanuel Petit and Alexis Sanchez - but the Portuguese right-back is thought to be in talks over a move to Fulham, and his exit could allow Trossard to wear the same shirt for both club and country.
Prior to his move to the Premier League, Trossard wore the number 14 in his final three years at Genk, and it would be some story if the 28-year-old was to be bestowed with Thierry Henry's old number.
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However, Eddie Nketiah's new long-term contract also came with the iconic '14', which he will certainly not give up, but there are plenty of other options available for Trossard should the '17' remain occupied by Cedric for the time being.
Arsenal are without a number two since Hector Bellerin left for Barcelona, although that shirt would be a strange choice for an attacker, while the number 13 is up for grabs while Alex Runarsson continues out on loan in Turkey.
The '13' has been reserved for goalkeepers since the last outfield player to wear it - Aleksandr Hleb - left in 2008, while a wealth of other Arsenal loanees have left their shirt numbers vacant for the January window.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles (15), Nicolas Pepe (19), Nuno Tavares (20), Pablo Mari (22) and Folarin Balogun (26) will not be back in North London for another few months, but in terms of totally free numbers, the 28 and 29 are both on offer following the permanent exits of Joe Willock and Matteo Guendouzi.
Ben Knapton
