Arsenal are closing in on the signing of highly-rated Sporting Lisbon youngster Joelson Fernandes, according to reports.
The highly-rated youngster, who does not even turn 18-years-old until next February, is considered as one of the most highly promising young players emerging in European football.
The left-winger, who racked up 28 appearances for Sporting's Under-23s side during the 2019/20 campaign, despite his tender age, is very well thought of by academy bosses at the Portuguese giants, with him already being dubbed as the next Cristiano Ronaldo, who, of course, is one of many special talents to have emerged from Sporting's academy down the years.
And reports in the national media over the last few days have claimed that Arsenal are leading the chase to sign him, with Fernandes' agent - Kia Joorabchian - having worked closely with Arsenal in the past.
If the Gunners were to be successful in their efforts to land Fernandes this summer, it would be a huge statement of intent by the North London club, who face Chelsea in Saturday's FA Cup Final at Wembley, as both Barcelona and German giants Borussia Dortmund have been closely linked with him as well.
But if Arsenal's transfer guru, Raul Sanllehi, was able to get a deal over the line for the youngster, who has already made four first-team appearances for Sporting, what shirt number would he take in North London?
Here, football.london has taken a close look at what shirt numbers would be on offer to Fernandes, who has worn numbers 11 and 96 in the past, ahead of the 2020/21 season.
No.6
Former Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny was the last Gunners player to wear shirt No.6 before he sealed a switch to French outfit Bordeaux last summer, meaning that particular number is available to any new recruits that arrive at the Emirates Stadium this summer.
No.8
Though shirt No.8 is currently occupied by Real Madrid loanee Dani Ceballos, it will become vacant again ahead of the start of the 2020/21 season if the Spaniard fails to return on a permanent basis or on another season-long loan.
No.12
Shirt No.12 has been available since the end of the 2018/19 season after former Gunners right-back Stephan Lichsteiner left the club after just one season in England.
No.13
Former Gunner shot-stopper David Ospina was the last player to hold this number and he left the club on a permanent basis last summer, joining Italian giants Napoli.
No.18
Having initially worn shirt No.17 upon his arrival at the Emirates Stadium, Nacho Monreal made the switch to shirt No.18 ahead of the start of the 2014/15 campaign and held that until he left last summer.
No.27
The No.27 shirt has been worn by some memorable names in the past, including Emmanuel Eboue, Gervinho and even Serge Gnabry.
But it has been available for anyone to wear since January after its occupier, Konstantinos Mavropanos, went out on loan, joining German club FC Nurnberg. Not longer after he had returned to England, though, Mavropanos was announced to have joined Stuttgart on loan for the whole of next season, meaning No.27 could be selected.
With Fernandes having worn both shirt numbers 11 and 96 during his career so far, the youngster may be able to take the latter of those two options, though such a high number for a kit number is not usually associated with English football.
