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Arsenal have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Porto midfielder Fabio Vieira – so what shirt number could he wear? The Gunners are said to have agreed to pay around £30million plus add-ons for Vieira.
Arsenal have signed a deal so far this summer and Brazilian youngster Marquinhos has agreed to join. Mikel Arteta is keen to sign a new striker following the departure of Alexandre Lacazette.
But the Gunners boss is also looking for reinforcements in other areas. Vieira, 22, is an attacking midfielder who has sometimes played as a second striker.
Portuguese journalist Pedro Sepulveda broke the news on Thursday that a deal had been agreed and the player would fly with them to London Fabrizio Romano Also asking for a fee has been set at around £30m plus add-ons. express sport looks at the shirt numbers he might be wearing when closing a deal.
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Table of Contents
#12
With the No. 9 jersey likely reserved for a striker and No. 2 for a defender, 12 is the lowest number Vieira could take. Willian and Stephan Lichtsteiner were the last two players to don the Gunners’ jersey.
Vieira would hope to have a bigger impact than these two if he took it on. Olivier Giroud and Thierry Henry also wore 12s during his brief spell on loan at Arsenal.
#14
Henry was best known for wearing the No 14 shirt during his glittering first spell at Arsenal. Theo Walcott and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have both worn it well ever since.
Vieira would have big shoes to fill. Perhaps a less famous number would put less pressure on the youngster.
#15
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is the current No. 15 in the Emirates. However, his future is likely to lie elsewhere following his loan spell at Roma in the second half of last season.
Vieira wore 15 at Portugal U18 level as well as in Porto youth team a few years ago. Cesc Fabregas and Ray Parlor are famous former residents of the number.
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#21
Calum Chambers’ move to Aston Villa in January leaves 21 for the first time since 2007. Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski previously held the shirt before his departure in 2014.
No. 50
Vieira has worn the number 50 during his 75 first-team appearances for Porto. However, Arsenal usually reserve such high numbers for youth players.
Other numbers available
Numbers 22, 27, 28 and 29 are the other numbers under 30 available in the Emirates.
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