Matthijs de Ligt is in line for a reunion with former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
The defender’s Bayern Munich days are numbered following the report of a €50m (£42.8m) agreement between the clubs. He is set to sign a five-year contract with the option of a further year.
With a transfer moving towards complet, what shirt number could De Ligt take at Old Trafford?
Here’s all you need to know about De Ligt’s favourite shirt numbers, those on offer at United right now and more.
Unlike another Dutchman who joined United earlier this summer (*cough* Joshua Zirkzee *cough*), De Ligt hasn’t been too liberal with the numbers he’s worn in his career so far.
While a youth player at Ajax, the centre-back wore the numbers 3, 4 and 6, which is quite standard for a player in his position.
Upon promotion to the Ajax senior team at the age of 17, De Ligt was handed the number 36 on the fringes of the squad, but this was quickly upgraded back to his preferred 4 one year later.
Since then, 4 is the only number that De Ligt has worn at club level, inheriting it upon moves to both Juventus in 2019 and then Bayern in 2022.
That hasn’t always been the case with the Netherlands, however, with three numbers worn during his international career – 3, 4 and 14. 3 is now his signature number with the Oranje.
De Ligt may just be in luck, because as it stands, United’s number 4 is available. Sofyan Amrabat wore it last season during his loan spell from Fiorentina, but it remains to be seen whether the Red Devils will keep him, and so as it stands, the shirt is available.
If it’s not 4, then De Ligt’s Netherlands number of 3 is also free for his choosing.
United’s other vacant numbers are 13, 19, 26, 27, 30, 31, 33, 34, 38 and 42.
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