Jude Bellingham could get dream Manchester United shirt number if he seals 2023 transfer

The summer transfer window might have only closed for business at the start of this month but already focus is quickly switching to January's and next summer's windows.

Manchester United were among the leading spenders in the Premier League this summer, splashing out north of £225million on six new signings. Manager Erik ten Hag was determined to change the look of his squad after picking up the baton from former interim manager Ralf Rangnick.

United bolstered several areas within their squad with their six new additions, from centre-back to central-midfield. However, despite notable improvements in most areas, United cannot afford to stand still, with Ten Hag recently confirming that the club would use this current international break to prepare for January.

Although it is impossible to predict how many new signings United could realistically target during the winter window, it is understood that a right-back, another midfielder and a striker are among their targets for the next phase of their rebuilding project. United failed to recruit a new right-back and striker in the summer, meaning they could take preference over a midfielder in January, leaving that until summer 2023.

If that proves to be the case, it's possible that United will target Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham. The England international, 19, has been regularly linked with a move to Old Trafford ever since joining Dortmund from Birmingham City more than two years ago.

United tried to sign the youngster before he joined Dortmund and they have retained their interest ever since. There is a growing feeling that he will be allowed to leave the German heavyweights next summer if the price is right.

If United are able to get his signature it will be a signing that is applauded by every supporter, such is the excitement surrounding Bellingham. He is a generational talent and is expected to start for England at the upcoming World Cup.

With that said, if United are lucky enough to land his signature next summer, you can guarantee that thousands of 2023/24 United replica shirts would don the midfielder's name on the back of them. But what number would he claim if he was to join the Reds?

Currently, he wears his trademark No.22 shirt for Dortmund. It was the shirt he wore at Birmingham and they made the decision to retire it following his departure.

At present, the No.22 shirt is occupied at United by goalkeeper Tom Heaton, who returned to the club in July 2021, 11 years after first leaving Old Trafford. The former Burnley man is out-of-contract next summer, but does have the option to extend his stay by an additional year.

Therefore, if United decide not to renew his deal it will give Bellingham a free run at the No.22 shirt — the only number he has so far worn during his club career. The Reds are likely to be forced into making some big decisions in the goalkeeping department next summer and it could result in Heaton being offloaded.

However, if he does renew his stay and United also sign Bellingham, the latter might have to try and persuade the 36-year-old to give up the No.22 shirt, similarly to when Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford last year and had to wrestle the No.7 shirt off Edinson Cavani.