Manchester United are trying to sign Jadon Sancho this summer and they are willing to offer the England international the iconic No 7 shirt – but that will come with enormous pressure given the curse of recent years.

Some of the greatest players to have ever played the game have donned United’s No 7 jersey such as Denis Law and George Best.

In more recent times Eric Cantona was preceded by David Beckham who in turn was followed by Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, ever since the five-time Ballon d’Or winner departed for Real Madrid in 2009 that number has been cursed.

Michael Owen took over the No 7 shirt for three years but only managed to register six Premier League starts.

Antonio Valencia was then passed the mantle but he quickly moved it on in favour of the No 25, which he used for the majority of his decade with the Red Devils.

Angel Di Maria, Memphis Depay and Alexis Sanchez all arrived in blockbuster deals and all suffered the same fate.

The trio of highly-talented attackers flopped for one reason or another in the post-Alex Ferguson era.

United have kept the No 7 jersey free this season after Sanchez was shipped out to Inter Milan on loan.

But if they can convince Borussia Dortmund to lower their £100million valuation of Sancho he could be handed the prestigious right-midfielder’s number.

Ferdinand was also asked which three players he would liked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to sign.

He replied: “Sancho, [Kalidou] Koulibaly and Saul Niguez.

“I think Harry Kane’s been linked but if I’m pushing for an attacking player I’d still go for Sancho, he gives you that little bit of imagination and I think he gives you that little bit of spice that they haven’t got at the moment.”