Liverpool Should Make Mats Hummels' Wish Come True with Transfer Move

You can tell the January transfer window is nearing when sensationalist headlines lead you to think Liverpool are being linked with players such as Mats Hummels.

In the world of the football rumour mill, an honest answer to a simple question really can make two plus two equal five.

Hummels, the 25-year-old German centre-back, told a Champions League question-and-answer session via Twitter that a stadium he'd like to play at is Anfield, as explained by Squawka News.

"

A. @matshummels: Anfield - I've never played at Liverpool. #AskHummels

— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 3, 2014"

Clint Hughes/Getty Images

Hummels was injured when Borussia Dortmund visited Liverpool for a pre-season friendly in August so, of course, he's yet to play at Anfield.

It's a straightforward answer to a simple question: Anfield is a famous stadium, renowned across Europe for its atmosphere and history.

Nonetheless, let's entertain the idea of Hummels getting his wish to play at Anfield by Liverpool making a bid for him this January.

History

The 6'3" centre-back is a commanding presence in Dortmund's defence, with more than 30 caps for Germany. 

He signed for Dortmund from rivals Bayern Munich in 2009 and has made more than 150 appearances, playing an essential role in Jurgen Klopp's Bundesliga-winning side in 2011 and 2012 and reaching the Champions League final in 2013.

Martin Rose/Getty Images

Alongside Neven Subotic, Hummels formed a partnership that helped Dortmund to the best defensive record in Bundesliga in 2011.

However, his current campaign has been beset by injuries, making only eight appearances for Dortmund this season—his last one being a month ago. His lack of playing time has no doubt contributed to Dortmund's on-pitch troubles as they've sunk to the bottom of Bundesliga.

Those injuries haven't stopped him being linked with a move to both Manchester United and Arsenal recently, as per the Express.

Right Side

The best thing about Hummels, in this theoretical reasoning of why Liverpool should target his signature, is that he plays on the right side of defence. That is to say, he's predominantly a right-sided centre-back.

Liverpool have £38 million of left-sided centre-backs, signing Dejan Lovren a year after Mamadou Sakho.

Personally, I believe it's a right-sided centre-back where Liverpool should have been looking to invest in this past summer; somebody to complement and work alongside Sakho at the heart of defence.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Meanwhile, somehow, Martin Skrtel has gone from being completely out of favour with Brendan Rodgers a little under a year and a half ago—when Skrtel's diabolical display in a 3-1 defeat at Southampton saw Rodgers ditch the Slovakian and play Jamie Carragher prior to his retirement—to now being the manager's first-choice centre-back.

Skrtel has been the one constant in Liverpool's ever-rotating, ever-fragile defence. It's about time Rodgers saw his weaknesses, of which there are many, and realised that Skrtel is not the answer.

The 29-year-old is far too clumsy, rashly diving into tackles and giving away needless free-kicks around the box, and he is often caught the wrong side of attackers. He lacks leadership skills despite being the Reds' most experienced defender bar Kolo Toure, and his faults were masked only by his goalscoring exploits at the other end from set pieces last season, which have dried up this year.

Skrtel isn't a bad defender, but he's not good enough for a Champions League-qualifying side, and it's his position that should have been strengthened this summer.

The—admittedly theoretical, in this instance—signing of Hummels would usher in the end of Skrtel's Liverpool career, meaning the club could retain some value before Skrtel is the wrong side of 30.

A centre-back pairing of Hummels and Sakho would be among the best in Europe, especially if Rodgers can bring out the best from the Frenchman—a regular for his country—and benefit from his second season in England.

Dream

While this is a very theoretical signing of Hummels, Liverpool could also make his wish of playing at Anfield come true by beating Basel next week in the crucial final Champions League group match—heightening the chances of the two sides meeting in the knockout stages.

Make it happen, Reds!