Mason Mount could be forced to wait for 'dream' shirt number at Man Utd unless teammate gives it up

Mason Mount could miss out on his 'dream' shirt number at Manchester United - unless one of his new team-mates decides to give it up.

The England international is close to completing a move to Old Trafford from Chelsea, and an announcement over the transfer could be made as early as Tuesday.

That's according to Fabrizio Romano, who reports that the 24-year-old has completed his medical at the club's Carrington training ground without issue.

He is set to share a 'goodbye' message with Chelsea first, before his move to United is officially announced by both clubs.

The move will go through for a fee of £55 million - a significant figure for a player that had just one year left on his existing contract but a lower fee than the initial £70 million that Chelsea demanded.

The announcement will include the shirt number that Mount will wear at Old Trafford - but he may not get the one he desires.

Mount shirt number dilemma

Mount wore the shirt number 19 while a part of the Chelsea senior team - and explained the reasoning behind the choice in a previous interview (via Sporting News): "It was my first number at Vitesse [Arnhem, during a loan spell].

"I chose it because my birthday is on the 10th and I couldn't wear number 10. One plus nine is 10!"

He is unlikely to be able to wear 19 at Old Trafford, however, with United centre-back Raphael Varane currently in possession of the number.

The number four is currently available, although that would likely go to a more defensive signing, while the vacant number seven will surely also go elsewhere.

Numbers 15 and 27, vacated by the returns of Marcel Sabitzer and Wout Weghorst to their parent clubs, are more realistic options. And Mount also wore number 60 for a short spell at Chelsea, which he could decide to wear again at Old Trafford.