Arsenal can offer Eze dream shirt number after £34m deal that stung Arteta

Arsenal are targeting a move for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze and have an added incentive available to the England international if he does join the Gunners

Arsenal will hope that the prospect of handing Eberechi Eze his ideal shirt number can help sweeten a possible move from Crystal Palace. The Gunners have made Eze their latest priority after finally signing striker Viktor Gyokeres for £63.7million to end the long-running transfer saga.

Mikel Arteta has been eager to improve his squad after falling short in the title race once again last term. Arsenal have spent close to £200m so far on centre-midfield pair Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera and new striker Gyokeres.

Eze has consistently dazzled throughout his time at Palace, ending last season with 25 goal contributions, including the winner in the club’s first FA Cup triumph. The attacking midfielder has donned the No. 10 shirt for most of his career, a squad number that Arsenal have not used since Arteta allowed Emile Smith Rowe to join Fulham for £34million last summer.

When previously asked if he was upset by Smith Rowe’s departure, the Arsenal boss confessed: "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."

Mirror Football understands that the Gunners opened talks over a potential deal for Eze last month. The 27-year-old has a £68m release clause in his contract, but Arsenal are aiming for a move around the £60m mark. The club considered offering Reiss Nelson as part of a swap deal, but the midfielder is a target for Fulham.

The vacant shirt number could appeal to Eze, who has been Palace’s No. 10 since 2021 and also wore the same number in his last two seasons at QPR. Arsenal icons such as Paul Merson, Dennis Bergkamp and Mesut Ozil each donned the No. 10 shirt.

However, Palace boss Oliver Glasner has insisted that his team cannot afford to sell their star players, amid interest in Eze and captain Marc Guehi. The club made a slow start to the summer window due to the dispute over which European competition they would be allowed to enter.

"Even though all the players are still here, we haven't made the most of the transfer window so far," Glasner admitted to Austrian 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."