Manchester United are set to focus most of their energy on signing a central-midfielder and a striker in this summer's transfer window.
United, who will resume their Premier League campaign after the international break with a trip to fellow top-four hopefuls Newcastle United next weekend, are set to move to the second phase of their rebuilding project under manager Erik ten Hag. The club invested a record-breaking amount of money in new additions last summer to kick-start the beginning of the Ten Hag era, bringing in the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Antony in big-money deals.
However, although it was not a necessity at the time, they failed to strengthen their attacking ranks with a new centre-forward. It is a position they must strengthen as a matter of urgency ahead of next season, with injury-prone Anthony Martial and loanee Wout Weghorst their only current options.
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Tottenham Hotspur ace Harry Kane, who is Ten Hag's preferred target, and Napoli star Victor Osimhen have been sounded out as leading candidates to strengthen the Reds' forward options. Both players are held in very high regard by their clubs, meaning United have their work cut out if they are to land either of them.
The Reds also want to recruit a younger and more dynamic central-midfielder, not only to bolster their midfield options but to bring the average age of that position within the team down. United, of course, chased Barcelona and Netherlands ace Frenkie de Jong for long periods last summer and have refused to rule out the prospect of a fresh pursuit for his signature this forthcoming summer.
Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham is another player United remain interested in, also refusing to rule out a second move for him. The England international, 19, is considered one of the hottest properties in world football and is continuing to go from strength to strength with both club and country.
He is expected to have a lorry load of suitors ahead of the transfer window opening, meaning the task of luring him to Old Trafford would be difficult. But even though United accept they are not at the front of the queue in the race for the former Birmingham City youngster, that's not to say they cannot move through the field and put themselves in pole position, especially if a takeover comes to fruition by the summer and sufficient funds are available for Ten Hag to strengthen his squad.
It is understood that Ten Hag has told confidants that if he could sign any player in the world it would be Bellingham. The midfielder is a generational talent and United did attempt to sign him ahead of him joining Dortmund in 2020.
Therefore, if United are successful in the race to sign the box-to-box midfielder and bring him back to England, it would be a statement signing that would send out a powerful message. With that said, if he was to complete a move to Old Trafford, you can guarantee that no shortage of supporters would want his name on the back of their 2023/24 replica shirts. But what number would he claim in event of sealing a move to M16?
Currently, the England ace wears the No.22 shirt for Dortmund - a number that he has donned throughout his club career. He has also worn it on the international stage, wearing it during the World Cup in Qatar at the end of last year.
He sports the No.22 shirt because he was told, as a youngster in Birmingham's academy, that he could play as a No.4, a No.8 or a No.10. Adding those three numbers together, of course, gives you 22, meaning it is a number that has always stuck with him.
At the moment, the No.22 shirt at United is occupied by goalkeeper Tom Heaton. However, his contract is due to expire at the end of this season, meaning he could leave Old Trafford and free up the number. The former Burnley shot-stopper does, however, have the option of an additional year that could be activated, meaning Bellingham, if he was to join United, may have to ask Heaton if he'd be prepared to swap.
Heaton, who has won the No.22 shirt at several junctures during his career, has made two appearances for United this season and it remains to be seen if his deal will be extended by a further 12 months. He turns 37 next month and the Reds have some big decisions to make in the goalkeeping department in the coming months.
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