Three Manchester United players deserve new squad numbers

Raphael Varane fancied the number four at Manchester United but Phil Jones, not seen in the first team for 19 months, refused to relinquish it.

So Varane plumped for '19' - his first squad number at Real Madrid. Amad was not as precious as Jones and accepted 16, a token gesture prior to a planned loan to Feyenoord that collapsed.

Jones was not listed on the United squad sheet on the back of programmes for almost the entirety of last season. It is still not official, but this time next week Jones will be a former Manchester United player and the number four will be vacant.

Varane is worthy of the '4' and the obvious occupant. Conveniently, Mason Mount's squad number at Chelsea is '19'.

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Supporters are understandably eager for clarification on squad numbers. Replica shirts are rarely unprinted on the back and most signings are so telegraphed that the revelation fans are pining for is what number their name will be above.

United managers have pondered squad numbers fastidiously. Sir Alex Ferguson offered the '7' to Roy Keane, four years in as the No.16, as he wanted to prevent David Beckham from having it after Eric Cantona's retirement in 1997.

James Wilson was 'downgraded' from 47 to 49 by Louis van Gaal as the Dutchman felt a striker should have a '9' in his number. He moved up to 19 until it was rescinded and reassigned to Marcus Rashford by Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho revoked the number five from Marcos Rojo in the summer of 2018 amid his demand for a new centre half. Harry Maguire gained the number, only it was eight months after Mourinho's sacking.

Left-footed wingers Adnan Januzaj and Mason Greenwood received '11' six years apart and Brandon Williams, a left-back, went