Arsenal need favour from 'exceptional' player as Viktor Gyokeres transfer close

Arsenal may require a favour from Oleksandr Zinchenko if Viktor Gyokeres makes a specific request upon his reportedly imminent arrival. The Gunners are widely said to be in advanced talks with Sporting over a £60million move for the Swedish forward.

Gyokeres is understood to be prioritising a move to Arsenal. Once the deal is complete, attention will turn to the squad number he will wear on the back of his shirt. While some players often do not care about their number, others are particularly superstitious and wear the same digits throughout their career. At Sporting, the 27-year-old has worn the No. 9, but that number is occupied by Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal.

During his last spell in England, Gyokeres shone for Coventry and may want to revert to the No. 17 - which he currently wears at international level for Sweden - in which he became a huge success in the Midlands. Left-back Zinchenko currently harbours that number, though.

Gyokeres will need to ask for a major favour if he wants the No. 17 upon arriving at Arsenal. After all, Zinchenko has played a bit-part role in north London over the past few seasons and will find Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori picked ahead of him next term. He has even been linked with a departure.

Zinchenko could therefore leave before Gyokeres arrives, leaving the incoming striker to take the No. 17. Although if the 28-year-old remains an Arsenal player when the deal is done, there could be a difficult conversation over the shirt number.

Arsenal could lose Zinchenko this summer, three years after Arteta was desperate to sign the star from Manchester City. Hours before that move was confirmed, Arteta said: "As you've seen he is here. There are still a few formalities to get everything completed but we're really happy to have him.

"I know the player really well, he's an exceptional footballer and he is someone that is going to bring as well another competitive edge to that dressing room." But he has fallen out of favour and AC Milan are keen.

Meanwhile, Gyokeres will have other options to choose from if he is not able to take No. 9 or No. 17. The club's famous No. 10 shirt has been free since Emile Smith Rowe's departure to Fulham last summer. That number has often been handed to attacking midfielders, rather than strikers.

Gyokeres could also wear No. 14, the digits worn most famously by Thierry Henry. Numbers 16, 18, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 30 are also available.