The January transfer window is open for another fortnight, but Arsenal are already turning their attention to the summer amid talk of a swoop for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice.
According to The Times, the England international is expected to depart the London Stadium at the end of the season as he's been unwilling to sign an extension to his contract which expires in 2024 - with an option to extend for a further year - and could cost in the region of £80m.
In addition, whilst the report states that Chelsea and Manchester United are likely to provide competition for Rice's signature, Arsenal believe that their status as Premier League leaders puts them in a strong position to win the race - although in keeping with the club's transfer policy they won't overpay.
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In the scenario that this deal does get completed in the summer, how would the midfielder's arrival affect the north London outfit in terms of adhering to the Premier League rules when permitted to name a 25-man squad - from which no more than 17 overseas players can be named - with the remaining eight places available to homegrown members of the squad?
Well, as Rice is 24 years of age he doesn't fit the criteria for an under-21 player that would be eligible over and above the limit of 25 players per squad, he will need to be registered if he joins Arsenal and would be considered a homegrown player having been registered with at West Ham - a club affiliated to The Football Association - continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday.
As things stand, the six Arsenal senior players who have been included in this particular list are Ben White, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding, Aaron Ramsdale and Reiss Nelson. Matt Smith has also been named despite no official promotion thus taking the total to seven.
In fact, the Gunners' Premier League squad only contains 21 players because Karl Hein, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and summer signing Marquinhos are all 21 or under, allowing them to be part of the separate list and eligible throughout the entire campaign.
However, this won't be the case for the entire quintet next season as per the rules that state: "An Under 21 player is defined as one who is under the age of 21 on 1st January in the year in which the season commences.
As a result, for the 2023/24 campaign, Under-21 players will have been born on or after 1 January 2002. Therefore, Saka, Saliba and Martinelli - if still at the club of course amid ongoing contract negotiations - must be registered in the 25-man Premier League squad for next season.
Even with the addition of three players and even if there are no further changes to the current Premier League squad, these factors would not impact Arsenal if they manage to sign Rice in the summer.
With that said, it's important to take this season's loan army into account as the club will have to make decisions regarding the futures of Runar Alex Runarsson, Arthur Okonkwo, Nuno Tavares, Pablo Mari, Auston Trusty, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Nicolas Pepe and Folarin Balogun.
As none will meet the criteria for an under-21 player, they must be registered in the 25-man squad in order to feature in the Premier League next season. Of course, that is if any force their way into Mikel Arteta's plans. But the problem is the Gunners are on course to have 32 senior players (33 if Rice signs) - battling for spots, so they could all be left disappointed.
Aside from Mari who will complete a permanent transfer to Monza provided they avoid relegation in Serie A, decisions have to be made regarding the other loanees and any Arsenal players surplus to requirements as Premier League rules effectively guarantee at least eight departures in the summer one way or another whether Rice signs or not.
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