Which shirt numbers Alex Telles can wear at Manchester United?

If reports surrounding the Old Trafford outfit are to be believed, Manchester United have reached an agreement to sign Alex Telles from Potro in the fading stage of the summer transfer window.

It has also been claimed that the transfer fee would be something around £15.4m.

It seems to be a nice deal for both parties, considering the fact that Porto would have lost a talented prodigy in Telles for free had they let his contract to run out next year by sticking to their €25m asking price this summer.

The 27-year-old full-back came under United’s radar after the Mancunian club missed out on Ben Chilwell and Sergio Reguilon earlier in this summer transfer window.

While the former decided to join Chelsea from Leicester City, the latter chose to move to their London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. And the red-faced United remained empty-handed.

Manchester United are in need of left-back, with Luke Shaw remaining their only left-footed left-back in the senior roster.

While speaking about jersey numbers, Telles used to wear no.13 at Porto. During his spell at Turkish club Galatasaray, Telles started with no.15 but was given no.13 abruptly in his second season at the club.

However, he won’t get no.13 right away at Manchester United as the respective number is currently occupied by club’s third-choice goalkeeper Lee Grant.

Here are some numbers Manchester United would like to hand the Brazilian following his arrival at the ‘Theater of Dreams’.

No.7: 

The illustrious no.7 jersey, which has had been worn by several iconic superstars at Old Trafford over the years, is now up for garb.

However, it can certainly be claimed now that Manchester United won’t give it to a left-back as it is particularly preserved for the wingers and forwards.  

No.12:

With Chris Smalling seemingly set to leave the club on the deadline day for AS Roma, his no.12 shirt would lose its long-lived owner.

The shirt would certainly be an option for the soon-to-be Manchester United left-back. 

 No.15:

Andreas Pereira has already completed his season-long loan move to SS Lazio and has left behind his no.15, which could be given to Alex Telles in the upcoming days.

No.19:

Since Manchester United handed Marcus Rashford the no.10 shirt, United have not found to the genuine owner for his former no.19. Alex Telles could be that seeking individual. 

No.20:

Like Andreas Pereira, Diogo Dalot has moved to Italy but joined AC Milan instead. Therefore, the no.20 shirt is currently vacant, and United won’t mind if Telles comes asking for that number. 

No.30: 

This is an interesting number that has been free for around three years now.

The last man to wear the no.30 was the Uruguayan full-back, Guillermo Varela. He re-joined Penarol after leaving United in 2017. 

Other than these, Telles could be given the no.27 shirt, previously owned by Marouane Fellaini, and no.28, once captured by youngster Angel Gomes. 

Telles could get higher numbers than these. But there is a high possibility that he wouldn’t as those numbers are reserved for youth-team players or the players preparing for a breakthrough campaign.