Arsenal may have the perfect welcome gift for 17-year-old midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas, should he complete a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.
Mikel Arteta’s side have been linked with the teenager in recent days, as Arsenal’s transfer plans begin to take shape. Reports in Greece have claimed the London club are closing in on a deal worth just shy of the £40m mark, although those claims are yet to be substantiated by other outlets.
football.london understands that sporting director Andrea Berta is working across multiple fronts and progressing talks across the market as a picture on who is coming in becomes clearer. If the Genk academy graduate follows in the footsteps of Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois by moving to the Premier League, Arsenal could offer him his favoured No.20 shirt.
Karetsas adopted the number at his current club last season, during which he scored three goals and registered four assists across 39 appearances in all competitions. The No.20 shirt was recently vacated at Arsenal following the club’s confirmation of Jorginho’s departure on a free transfer when his contract expires.
The midfielder joined the Gunners from Chelsea for just £12m in the 2023 winter transfer window and went on to make 79 appearances. Reports suggest Jorginho is set to join Brazilian side Flamengo as a free agent, leaving his shirt number open for potential new arrivals.
Other shirt numbers available for new signings this summer include 10, 13, 14, 16, 25, 26, 34, and 35.
Karetsas, along with Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres, and Benjamin Sesko, has been tipped to make a move to North London in the coming weeks.
Arsenal ended the 2024/25 campaign without silverware, despite a promising run to the Champions League semi-finals, where they were ultimately knocked out by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
Arteta will be desperate for his side to go one step further either domestically or in Europe next term, an ambition that will require investment, especially with both Liverpool and Manchester City poised to significantly strengthen this summer.
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