Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz continues to be linked with a move to Arsenal as doubts over his future in Italy continue.
The Spanish midfielder is out of contract at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona next summer, with negotiations over an extended stay having reached an impasse.
It has been reported that Arsenal would be aiming to take advantage of that fact. The Daily Mirror suggest that the Gunners are interested in a deal, with Mikel Arteta a big fan of Ruiz and the qualities that he could potentially add to the current incumbent at the Emirates Stadium.
It is suggested that it would cost £16m to seal a move for Ruiz in the summer - a deal that would almost certainly be attractive for the Gunners considering their dire need for midfield recruits heading into next season.
Should the Spaniard arrive at the Emirates Stadium, he might have to do some deep thinking about the squad number that he selects considering that the majority of his previous picks are already occupied.
He currently wears the number eight shirt with Napoli, with his most recent shirt on international duty also donning the same number. It appears unlikely that he would be able to do that in north London, with the in-form Martin Odegaard having claimed that shirt having sealed a permanent move in the summer.
Another potential selection could be the number six having worn that shirt during his final season with Real Betis. Again, that is not a shirt that is available at the Emirates Stadium with Gabriel Magalhaes the owner.
A loan spell with Elche during the 2016/17 campaign saw Ruiz select number 16 but that again seems a choice that would be off-limits, with Rob Holding the current occupier.
Looking at his club history, the other number that the 25-year-old could turn to is 21 and that could well be an option considering it is not currently claimed.
That could well appear as the most likely option, with a number of shirt numbers that Ruiz has donned on international duty being claimed.
He has previously claimed both 17 and 19 but they too appear off-limits, with Cedric Soares and Nicolas Pepe the recipients.
That situation could potentially be set to change should any of the aforementioned current Arsenal players elect to leave the club in the summer which could well open up an opportunity for Diaz.
