Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez have both selected their Manchester City shirt numbers ahead of the new season, City Xtra understand....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
The pair are closing in on their much-anticipated arrival at the City Football Academy, to begin work with their new teammates before the start of the 2022/23 season.
While Erling Haaland is currently enjoying the Marbella sunshine during his much-needed summer holidays, Julian Alvarez
remains on duty with his loan club River Plate at present.
Both men are expected to arrive for Manchester City’s pre-season training in and around July 11th, with some players already making their return to England ahead of schedule.
However, before then, the club are expected to reveal each player’s shirt number for the new season, with many supporters already anticipating which of the aforementioned striking duo has chose the iconic number ‘9’ shirt at the club.
Gabriel Jesus’ £45 million transfer to Arsenal in the coming days – which is yet to be announced by the London club despite being complete – will not only allow Manchester City to reinvest further this summer, but also free up his shirt number for a wanting suitor.
With that being said, City Xtra understand that both Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez have already informed Manchester City of their desired squad numbers which will be unveiled in due course.
For Haaland, sources have told City Xtra that the Norway international has chosen and will become the club’s new number ‘9’ – inheriting the shirt from the outgoing Gabriel Jesus.
As for Julian Alvarez, one source close to the player has told City Xtra that the Argentine’s selected number will “surprise” supporters.
At present, the available shirt numbers that some would deem the most realistic for Alvarez would include: 15, 19, 21, 30, 32.
Manchester City’s busy summer transfer activity in the way of potential outgoings from the club could mean further squad numbers are made available in the coming days and weeks.
Raheem Sterling’s number ‘7’ shirt could be made available in the near future, with Chelsea known to be in hot pursuit of the player.
Elsewhere, Oleksandr Zinchenko’s uncertain future means number ’11’ may be on the market again, while Nathan Ake’s number ‘6’ could be made open for selection should he decide to move away from Manchester City.
In the way of potential incomings to rival teammates for new numbers, Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips is expected to finalise his move to Manchester City in the coming days with the two clubs having agreed a £42 milion deal.
Phillips is set to undergo his various medical tests on Friday in a major step forward to completing his exit from Elland Road.
Media duties and club formalities are set to follow, with the relevant paperwork now all finalised and prepared by all parties for the arrival of the player and his representatives at the end of this week.
The England international may be tempted to inherit Fernandinho’s iconic number 25, while Marc Cucurella of Brighton is another player of significant interest and will need those figures to retain the flow of promising youth talents.
