Rasmus Hojlund’s preferred Man Utd shirt could be available if Erik ten Hag gets transfer wish

Rasmus Hojlund could be confirmed as a Manchester United player this week after the Red Devils agreed a fee with Atalanta for the player.

Erik ten Hag identified the need for a new striker ahead of the summer window, with United lacking options in that area during the final weeks of last season, while the team also struggled for goals. Despite Hojlund’s inexperience, the club are hoping the Danish international can help close the gap to rivals Manchester City this campaign.

As with all new signings, fans will be eager to know which shirt number Hojlund will take upon arrival. The striker’s preferred choice is, unsurprisingly, the no.9 jersey, but is already occupied at Old Trafford by Anthony Martial.

Yet that could change over the coming weeks, with Ten Hag happy to move Martial on if a suitable buyer becomes available. The United boss has grown weary of the striker’s injury record and Martial is currently recuperating from a torn hamstring. If he were to be sold this summer, the no.9 jersey would of course be up for grabs.

The same can be said of Fred, who Fabrizio Romano described on Monday as a player that will ‘100 percent’ leave United this window. Fred wears the 17 jersey, one chosen by Hojlund Atalanta when no.9 wasn’t available. The attacker also adorned 28 and 45 during his time at Copenhagen, with only the latter free at present.

Elsewhere, there are two single-digit shirts currently free at United, but neither one or four are numbers associated with a centre-forward. Hojlund could also choose 13 or 15, shirts most recently held by Lee Grant and Marcel Sabitzer respectively, while there’s nothing available in the 20s for the new signing.

Numbers available to Hojlund under 40: 1, 4, 13, 15, 31, 32, 35, & 36.