Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Benfica striker Darwin Nunez and can offer him his two preferred shirt number if he moves to Old Trafford this summer.
The Uruguay international, 22, has been in blistering form this season, scoring 34 club goals in all competitions. It's believed several top European clubs are interested in signing him - including United, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
The Red Devils don't have the pull of Champions League football to lure Nunez to Old Trafford after finishing sixth in the Premier League, although they will be able to offer him either the No9 or No21 if he joins Erik ten Hag's ambitious new team.
The No21 will become free at United when Edinson Cavani's contract expires at the end of this month. Nunez's compatriot is leaving Old Trafford after a nightmare campaign, scoring just two goals in all competitions. He manged 17 the previous season.
The No21 is special to Nunez because he wore it at Almeria in 2019-20 - a breakthrough season for the youngster. He scored 16 league goals in Spain's second tier to persuade Benfica to pay a club-record €24million (around £20.6m) for him in September 2020.
In terms of United's No9, current holder Anthony Martial looks set to leave the club this summer. The 26-year-old, who has two years remaining on his existing deal, spent the second half of last season on loan at Sevilla - scoring just once in 12 appearances.
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Sevilla are not interested in making Martial's move permanent, yet he's still expected to find a new club. United legend Gary Neville urged his former employers to sell the Frenchman in December so both parties can enjoy a fresh start.
"I think if they can get good money for him I would," said Neville. "I probably would have said that if they could have got good money for him in the summer, with the players they’ve got then yes I would. I think the time has come.
"I think they’ve always been wary of getting burnt. Of him leaving for £25m and then going on to become a £100m player because he is a special talent.
"I just don’t think he’ll ever work at Old Trafford, to the extent they’ve got [Marcus] Rashford, [Cristiano] Ronaldo and Cavani, other players as well. I just think now is the time for him to leave and go and play regular football. I think it’s the right time."
Martial's departure would allow Nunez to take the No9 shirt, his current number at Benfica and primary position. The Uruguayan has also worn the jersey at international level and would follow in the footsteps of some iconic players by taking the shirt.
The likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andy Cole and Dimitar Berbatov have all worn the No9 at Old Trafford during the Premier League era. Other possible shirt numbers include the No6, No8, No14, and No24 - although Bruno Fernandes is believed to be after the No8.
