Just two days of the summer transfer window have passed, and Manchester United are closing in on their second marquee arrival in Bryan Mbeumo. The Brentford forward has reportedly chosen Old Trafford, snubbing rival interest from Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, among other suitors.
United will now enter direct talks with Brentford in the coming days to agree a transfer fee, expected to be around £50million. Mbeumo looks set to follow Matheus Cunha, who the Red Devils announced as their first capture of a crucial summer after the window opened on Sunday. And Ruben Amorim will be ready and waiting with the perfect welcome gift, aside from his status as a sure starter in his team.
Mbeumo lit up the Premier League for Brentford this season, plundering 20 goals and registering a further eight assists for Thomas Frank's side.
He shone while donning the No. 19 shirt, doing so in all six of his seasons since joining the then-Championship club from Troyes in 2019.
The 25-year-old also wore the number at Troyes before switching to the No. 11 shirt in his final year, while it's also a familiar sight while he represents Cameroon on the international stage.
Mbeumo has more commonly worn the No. 20 for his country, but while Diogo Dalot currently occupies that locker in the dressing room, he's in luck when it comes to his other preferred choice.
That's because the No. 19 shirt has been vacant at Old Trafford since Raphael Varane departed as a free agent last summer.
Mbeumo will already feel right at home in the Premier League, and inheriting his trademark shirt number is bound to help with the transition.
Varane was the 14th player to wear the No. 19 shirt for the senior side, following brief stints by Amad, Marcus Rashford and James Wilson.
Danny Welbeck wore it from his academy graduation in 2008 to his exit for Arsenal in 2015 and remains the longest-serving owner.
Gerard Pique, Edwin van der Sar, Eric Djemba Djemba, Ricardo, Dwight Yorke, Michael Clegg, Ronny Johnsen, Chris Casper and Nicky Butt preceded Welbeck.
Cunha is expected to become United's new No. 10 once Marcus Rashford completes his inevitable permanent departure before next season.
The Brazilian shone with the shirt at Wolves, having initially played with the No. 12 on his back.
Tyrell Malacia is likely to surrender that number once he leaves this summer, but Cunha's preference is obvious.