Following the departure of Martin Dubravka, Man Utd has confirmed the signing of Jack Butland on a loan basis for the conclusion of the current campaign.
And the shot-stopper is poised to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Nemanja Matic and Bastian Schweinsteiger after being given the No 31 jersey. The 29-year-old will provide competition for David De Gea, who remains Erik ten Hag’s undisputed No 1.
Man Utd recently saw Dubravka leave Old Trafford, with Newcastle recalling the Slovakia international following an injury to Nick Pope.
And they have confirmed the arrival of Butland on Friday, with the shot-stopper set to challenge De Gea and Tom Heaton for a place in the team.
United have also revealed Butland will wear the No 31 shirt which, despite being high, has been a popular pick for new recruits in recent years.
Man Utd have previously sealed Nemanja Matic and Bastian Schweinsteiger transfers (Image: GETTY)
The Red Devils gave it to Dubravka when he arrived in the summer, though he made just two appearances during his brief stint.
Before that it was worn by Matic, who touched down from Chelsea back in the summer of 2018.
The Serbia international was a steady asset for United during the years where Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ruled the roost.
Yet he left at the end of last season after the club opted against giving him a new contract, with Casemiro brought in as a replacement.
Prior to Matic’s arrival, it had been sported by Schweinsteiger.
Big things were expected from the Germany international, who had won the lot during a glittering spell at Bayern Munich.
Yet, like with Owen Hargreaves in 2007, the Bundesliga giants sold to United at the right time – with Schweinsteiger a shadow of his old self.
United brought in Marouane Fellaini following the appointment of David Moyes in 2013, with the Scot raiding former club Everton for the Belgian powerhouse.
Fellaini wore it during his first season at Old Trafford but switched to No 27 after the arrival of Schweinsteiger, who had worn the digits at Bayern.
Scott Wootton, Correy Evans, David Jones, Darren Fletcher, Nick Culkin, John Curtis, William Prunier and Keith Gillespie have also sported it over the years.
Five senior players wear higher than the No 31 at present.
Defenders Brandon Williams and Axel Tuanzebe sport Nos 33 and 38, though both are expected to leave the club either this month or at the end of the campaign.
