Erik ten Hag could hand David Carmo his ideal shirt number if he signed him for Manchester United.
Centre-back is one of United's top priorities this summer as they look to improve the squad following their worst ever Premier League campaign. Harry Maguire had a disastrous season which has seen his captaincy come into question, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof both struggled while Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe could all leave this summer.
It's clear that improvements are needed at the back and the Manchester Evening News understands that Ten Hag has made Jurrien Timber his preferred option, with the manager knowing him well from their time at Ajax together. The 20-year-old is versatile enough to also play at right-back, which is handy as Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been earmarked for a departure.
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However, Timber kept his cards close to his chest when asked about his future while on international duty. “In the end, my gut feeling will be the deciding factor,” Timber was quoted as saying by De Telegraaf. “The picture has to be right.
"You can go to a big club. But if you're not going to play there it's better to stay with Ajax. And Ajax is also a big club. We play football in the Champions League and I play there together with the best players in the Netherlands. That is not nothing.
"Of course, I can develop further [at Ajax]. I am 100 per cent sure of that. I don't feel like I'm done at the club. But I can also develop at other clubs. I am now focusing on the upcoming international matches and then go on holiday. Then I'll have to think about it some more."
Should Timber decide to remain in Amsterdam, then United may be forced to turn their attention to an alternative in Carmo. It's understood that United have held two rounds of talks with the left-footed centre-back's representatives and that he is a fallback option.
The 22-year-old was close to joining Liverpool in the 2020/21 season before the deal collapsed but has continued to develop his game well at Braga. An ankle injury did see him miss a large chunk of last season but he still made 19 appearances and earned his first call-up to the Portugal squad for the current round of Nations League fixtures.
If United were to bring in Carmo, they would be able to offer a shirt number he has a great affinity with. The physically imposing defender has worn the No.16 for the last two seasons at Braga and though it is currently held by Amad at Old Trafford it wouldn't be a great effort to give it to Carmo instead, as last summer showed.
Amad was originally No.19 at United but swapped to the No.16 upon Varane's arrival at the club, who took the number he wore upon first signing for Real Madrid. It's hard to imagine there would be any objection to another move if necessary.
Carmo has also been handed the No.4 for his first Portugal call-up and that number may be available at United as well should Jones depart.
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