Noussair Mazraoui set to grab dream Man United shirt number after £17m transfer agreement with Bayern Munich

Noussair Mazraoui set to grab dream Man United shirt number after £17m transfer agreement with Bayern Munich

Manchester United are closing in on moves for Morocco player Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt

Noussair Mazraoui is one step closer to becoming a Manchester United player – and with that a reunion with Erik ten Hag – after the Premier League giants agreed a fee with Bayern Munich for his signature.

The former Ajax right-back will cost United around £17million this summer. His transfer is dependant on West Ham finalising a sale for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, as Ineos continue to reshape the options available to Ten Hag.

Mazraoui will be joined at Old Trafford by Matthijs de Ligt, who also worked under Ten Hag in Amsterdam, after a separate £41million agreement was reached for the Netherlands centre-back.

After getting deals for Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee across the line last month, hard work has continued behind the scenes. Ineos are ‘open’ to signing up to three centre-backs this summer with De Ligt ready to make that two after United won the race for highly-rated French defender Yoro.

However, further additions will be governed by outgoings. United have spent around £150million this summer on the basis Mazraoui and De Ligt touch down at Old Trafford, as expected.

Aside from a pending and proposed departure for Wan-Bissaka, they are actively looking to move Victor Lindelof on. Casemiro, Scott McTominay and Jadon Sancho could also depart.

For now, though, the onus is on incomings. Mazraoui and De Ligt could arrive imminently and, when the ink dries on their respective contracts, they will have to pick out a new shirt number for United.

There are plenty of choices for Mazraoui. In his senior career, No.40 – which is free – has been a constant choice.

However, the No.3 shirt could also take his eye, having worn that for the Morocco international team. Barring any further in-house changes, the other numbers currently unassigned by United include; No.13, No.19, No.26 and No.27, while a host of options in the 30s, 40s and 50s are still up for grabs, too