Manchester United are closing in on completing a deal for Chelsea's Mason Mount having agreed a fee with the Blues.
That had been the sticking point in the transfer with personal terms agreed with the England international some weeks ago. He is now set to undergo a medical next week ahead of moving to Old Trafford.
And United could give Mount his favourite No.19 at Old Trafford if Raphael Varane swaps numbers for his own preferred choice.
Erik Ten Hag wants to add another quality operator in the middle of the park after a season in which he relied heavily upon new signings Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. The drop in quality when either of them were unavailable was obvious and given both are in their 30s, the Dutchman also wants to reduce the age of his midfield.
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Mount has won the Champions League and Club World Cup with Chelsea and he was a starter in their three successive FA Cup final defeats between 2020-2022, as well as their League Cup final loss to Liverpool on penalties last year.
Given United have so many players on their books, there aren't many numbers currently up grabs for new arrivals this summer, including Mount's No.19. He has worn the number for the duration of his time in the Chelsea first team as well as in tournaments for England and during a loan spell at Vitesse Arnhem.
The number is currently occupied by Varane at Old Trafford but it could be about to become available just in time. The No.4 shirt is about to be vacant at United for the first time since 2011 as its occupier Phil Jones will be leaving the club upon the expiration of his contract.
Varane consistently wore the number for France from 2012 all the way up to his final game, last year's thrilling World Cup final defeat to Argentina. Given its prominence as a defender's number, the 30-year-old could well opt to take it this summer and leave the No.19 free for Mount to wear.
