Arsenal are keen to sign West Ham United captain Declan Rice this summer, football.london understands.
Mikel Arteta's side, who currently sit on top of the Premier League table, are one of the youngest sides in Europe's top five leagues, with stars Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba all 21 or 22 years old. However, one area where the Gunners aren't quite as youthful is in midfield.
Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny are all 29 or older, with Arteta intent on refreshing his options in the centre of the park at the end of the current campaign. The Spaniard's priority in this department is Hammers' star Rice and football.london understands that there is optimism a deal can be done despite interest from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United.
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If the north London outfit are able to bring the England international to the Emirates Stadium at the end of the current campaign, he will be able to wear his favoured shirt number, which is unusually 41. Explaining to Gary Neville on The Overlap last year how he ended up with No.41, Rice said: "It was just the number I was given in the academy by the kitman, when you are in the under-23s there are the first team squad numbers and then it gets to the higher numbers and I was given 41 when I went to Seattle on my first trip with the first-team.
"I was just given 41 and it has stayed with me since. And to be honest with you I have been having these conversations with my dad, regardless of what happens in my career I may stay with 41.
"I just think Rice 41 has a nice ring to it and obviously I have grown up playing in it and I am a bit superstitious with things like that, I don't know if I change to a new number if it will hamper my performances, I don't know! Sometimes I think about things like that."
When Neville asked him if No. 7 would suit him, Rice replied laughing: "Seven dog? Nah, not seven dog, no way. Either four or six, I think those are the standard numbers."
No Arsenal first-team player currently wears the No.41 shirt. The number is listed as young midfielder Mauro Bandeira on the club's website, although he is yet to make his debut for the senior side. Meanwhile, No.4 and No.6 are occupied by defenders Ben White and Gabriel Magalhaes respectively.
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