Man Utd shirt sale blunder hints at potential number conflict for Jadon Sancho

Posted Wednesday, July 21, 2021 by Dailystar.co.uk

Manchester United fans think they have picked up a telling clue as to which number the club's £73million signing from Borussia Dortmund will wear during the 2021/22 campaign

Manchester United fans think they have discovered what number Jadon Sancho will wear for the club next season.

It is just a matter of time until United officially announce the arrival of Sancho from Borussia Dortmund after the clubs agreed on a £73million transfer.

Sancho has already completed a medical and agreed to a five-year contract with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team.

The 21-year-old winger has been enjoying some time off on holiday with Marcus Rashford following his involvement with England at Euro 2020.

When he returns he will be unveiled as United’s first major summer signing, but one facet of his move has yet to be cleared up.

Man Utd shirt sale blunder hints at potential number conflict for Jadon Sancho
Sancho wore the No 7 shirt at Borussia Dortmund (Image: Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images)

Sancho took the No 7 shirt upon his arrival at Borussia Dortmund in 2017 and has since built up a personal JS7 brand around it.

There is little doubt he would want the same number at his new club. However, that eventuality would require Edinson Cavani to vacate it.

Whether the veteran striker is willing to do so remains to be seen, but eagle-eyed United fans have already spotted a clue in that area.

Supporters looking to buy United’s new home kit for the 2021/22 season online were greeted with an expected sight on Tuesday evening.

Those who went on the Pro:Direct Soccer website were shown a teaser image of the shirt with ‘Sancho 7’ on the back.

Meanwhile, others discovered that ‘Sancho 7’ and ‘Cavani 7’ were both available on the drop-down menu when trying to buy a personalised shirt.

Man Utd shirt sale blunder hints at potential number conflict for Jadon Sancho
A promotional image from the website shows 'Sancho 7' on a United shirt (Image: Twitter)

George Best, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Eric Cantona have all worn the famous number for United and it seems a potential conflict could be brewing over it now.

United have precedent for changing numbers to accommodate a new signing, having taken the No 9 shirt off Anthony Martial in favour of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2016.

Sancho’s ego is not at the level of Ibrahimovic, but he might feel his status is worthy of the iconic number.

The England international contributed 16 goals and 14 assists for Dortmund last season and arrives at Old Trafford as a high-profile statement signing.

With the official unveiling fast approaching, we will soon discover the outcome of the Sancho shirt number conundrum.