With just three days left in the transfer window, Crystal Palace are eyeing up a new striker.
Eddie Nketiah is a real long-term target for Dougie Freedman.
Nketiah has been linked with the Eagles as early as three years ago, and over the past year, it has seemed like he is the top target.
Earlier in 2024, it was even reported that Crystal Palace saw a £30m bid rejected for Nketiah.
This move could appease Ebere Eze given he is close to Nketiah, therefore leaving the Crystal Palace No.10 happy to remain at Selhurst Park.
A deal taking Nketiah to Crystal Palace is now closer than ever, with David Ornstein reporting that Arsenal were expected to accept a £25m plus £5m offer.
So with that in mind, attention now turns to what squad number Nketiah will be handed.
- READ MORE: Crystal Palace confirmed signings, transfer ins and outs, loans and releases for 2024 summer window
Eddie Nketiah squad number history
For Nketiah, number 14 has been where he has been for years at Arsenal and almost his entire time as a first-team player.
The 25-year-old is into his fourth season as Mikel Arteta’s number 14, but he has also worn numerous other numbers in his professional career.
| Season | Club | Shirt Number |
| 2021-Present | Arsenal | 14 |
| 2020-2021 | Arsenal | 30 |
| 2019-2020 | Leeds United | 14 |
| 2018-2019 | Arsenal | 49 |
| 2017-2018 | Arsenal | 62 |
For Nketiah, number 14 looks unlikely considering Jean-Philippe Mateta is the current owner of this number – the number which he was rewarded with at Arsenal and he admitted meant a lot to him, during an interview with The Telegraph.
The numbers 30, 49 and 62 are all available – however, they are so high that we doubt a marquee signing such as Nketiah would be handed them.
But there are some other good Crystal Palace squad number options for Nketiah, including one standout choice.
Squad numbers available at Crystal Palace
For Nketiah, eyes will be firmly locked on claiming the No.9 shirt as his own, following the exit of Jordan Ayew to Leicester.
This number is the standout choice for a striker who seems likely to play a key role this season, perhaps even starting over Mateta.
Other than the No.9, there are no real key player numbers which would fit Nketiah, with the nine belonging to a striker.
Hopefully, this is the addition Crystal Palace needed in order to stop the rut which has seen back-to-back defeats to start the season.
