Manchester City are considering the possibility of making a move for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice in this summer's transfer window.
The Manchester Evening News understands that City, who will kick off their 2023/24 Premier League campaign with a trip to Turf Moor to face newly-promoted Burnley, are exploring a move for the England international as he plans to leave the London Stadium this summer. Rice has been heavily linked with England's leading clubs in recent years and he looks set to finally leave the Hammers in this current transfer window.
Arsenal have identified the 24-year-old as their primary transfer target this summer and have already seen an opening bid for him turned down. West Ham are understood to value Rice at £100million and the Gunners' bid fell short of their asking price.
It has also been reported elsewhere that the Hammers were frustrated at the way in which Arsenal wanted to pay for the midfielder. They are believed to have submitted their offer with a view to funding the deal with structured installments.
READ MORE: City's 2023/24 Premier League fixture list released in full
City manager Pep Guardiola is understood to be keen on adding a new midfielder to his ranks this summer and Rice has now made his way onto the club's radar, though they are yet to table an offer. Nevertheless, they are considering beefing up their interest.
With that said, MEN Sport has taken a close look at the current crop of squad numbers available to Rice and other potential incomings...
No.7 - With Joao Cancelo facing an uncertain future at the Etihad Stadium, the iconic No.7 shirt could become available this summer. The number has previously been worn at City by several household names such as Raheem Sterling and Robbie Fowler.
No.11 - The No.11 shirt has been vacant at the Etihad Stadium since Oleksandr Zinchenko swapped City for Arsenal last summer. He wore No.11 between 2019 and 2022, and it had been worn by the likes of Aleksandar Kolarov and Elano prior to him, as well as club legend Mike Summerbee many years ago.
No.12 - Angelino was the last City player to wear the No.12 shirt, donning it during the 2019/20 campaign. However, it is currently registered to Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who could reclaim it for the 2023/24 season if he is not sent out on loan again or sold.
No.13 - Like the No.12 shirt, No.13 is also registered to a player that has been out on loan this season, that being goalkeeper Zack Steffen. As is the case with Harwood-Bellis, Steffen's future will dictate whether the No.13 shirt will be available this summer.
No.15 - The No.15 shirt has been available at City since Eliaquim Mangala's departure in 2019. It has swapped hands several times in recent years, being worn by the likes of Jesus Navas, Stefan Savic and Javier Garrido.
No.22 - The No.22 shirt was most recently assigned to Benjamin Mendy. It has been a popular number with left-backs in recent years, also being worn by the likes of Gael Clichy and Greg Cunningham.
No.24 - Once worn by John Stones, the No.24 shirt has been up for grabs at the Etihad since centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo left the club almost three years ago. The last midfielder to wear it was French icon Patrick Vieira between 2010 and 2011.
No.27 - Donned by Cancelo up until he switched to the No.7 shirt last summer, the No.27 shirt is another option up for grabs. The likes of former youngster Patrick Roberts and Benjani have worn it in the past.
No.28 - The No.28 shirt at City has not been worn since defender Jason Denayer donned it during the 2015/16 season. Prior to him, it had also been worn by the likes of Kolo Toure and Gelson Fernandes.
No.29 - The No.29 shirt has also gone several years without an owner at City. It was last donned by former goalkeeper Richard Wright, who sported it between 2012 and 2016.
No.30 - Argentina centre-back Nicolas Otamendi was the last City player to wear the No.30 shirt, sporting it on his back between 2015 and 2020. Prior to Otamendi, it was worn by goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, who is now general manager at Politehnica Timisoara in his native Romania.
Other shirt numbers that are currently available to Rice beyond No.30 include 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40, plus his trademark No.41. Summer departures would, of course, free up other numbers as well.
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