Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Kevin Strootman, Mats Hummels, More

Manchester United's season seems to be on the up at the moment as they currently sit fourth in the Premier League and are the form team in the division having won their last four matches.

However, Louis van Gaal's side is far from the finished article, and they still look to be weak in areas, particularly defensively.

It seems that Van Gaal is to be given the resources to correct that with Mark Ogden in the Telegraph reporting he is to be handed more than £100 million for transfers in the summer.

Here are the latest reports on where that money may be going.

Kevin Strootman

Paolo Bruno/Getty Images

Kevin Strootman is a long-term target of Van Gaal's, the defensive midfielder having played under the 63-year-old for the Dutch national team.

With the 24-year-old Roma player recently having returned from a long-term injury, speculation continues to circulate about a potential move for Strootman to Old Trafford.

Indeed, Ogden's report suggests he is still high on Van Gaal's wish list with Strootman seemingly eager to make the move:

"

Roma midfielder Strootman is understood to be determined to be reunited with Van Gaal having become a key figure in the Holland team prior to the cruciate ligament injury sustained in March which forced him to miss the World Cup.

"

Rhys Turrell in the Daily Star reports that Roma are unlikely to accept anything less than £30 million for one of their star players, but given Van Gaal's reported budget, that should well be in United's range.

With the summer additions of Daley Blind and Ander Herrera, the resurgence of Marouane Fellaini and recent excellent form of Michael Carrick since returning from injury, per the Telegraph's Henry Winter, United's central midfield unit actually looks fairly strong at present:

However, Strootman would add even further quality to that area of the pitch, and at 24 years old and with Carrick nearing the end of his career, he could be United's defensive midfield talisman for years to come.

Not only would he bring an added dimension of solidity in a defensive sense, but his ball-winning capabilities, passing attributes and penchant for bagging the occasional goal would make him a fine asset to United's attack also.

Strootman is a world-class central midfielder who would be a key addition at United, and Van Gaal must continue to pursue him as he would improve the Red Devils greatly.

Mats Hummels

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Another player long linked with United, Borussia Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels remains on Van Gaal's wish list, according to Chris Wheeler in the Daily Mail.

The Red Devils went in for Hummels last summer as they attempted to find replacements for the departed Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, but they were unsuccessful. 

However, Wheeler reports that United are set to return for the £32 million-rated 25-year-old German in June as they attempt to shore up a weak defensive unit.

Indeed, United have been often ramshackle at the back so far this season and need added quality in defence if they are to become realistic title contenders once again, and Hummels is one of the best centre-backs around, as noted by Bundesliga expert Cristian Nyari:

But it remains to be seen whether Hummels can be lured away from Dortmund, where he is captain. Borussia boss Jurgen Klopp has often insisted his skipper's links with United are merely rumours, per Ben Burrows in the Mirror, but Dortmund's disastrous form so far this season may yet have an influence on any potential deal.

The Bundesliga giants currently sit 14th in the German top flight, having lost more games than any other team, and Klopp's job is in some jeopardy as a result.

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Were Klopp to depart the club or Dortmund to finish outside of the Champions League spots, that may have an influence on the Hummels transfer, although the player himself recently denied the possibility of either scenario, per Sport1 (h/t Dominic Raynor on Goal.com):

"

I think, we can exclude that [Klopp leaving]. Because nobody in the team feels like that. I think and I hope these discussions about us fighting relegation won't last and will pass off by December. 

"

Dortmund will not let Hummels go easily, but as one of the top defenders in the world, he would be a quality addition to the United side if they could prise him away.

Marco Reus

Lars Baron/Getty Images

United have also been linked—along with seemingly every other top club in the world—with Dortmund star Marco Reus.

James Orr in the Independent reports that Van Gaal is set to go in for Reus in the January transfer window, seemingly in a bid to get the jump on any clubs looking to take advantage of the 25-year-old midfielder's bargain £19.75 million buyout clause, set to become active in the summer per Nick Lustig in the Daily Star.

However, Germany and Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus has urged Reus to stay in the Bundelsiga rather than join the Premier League, where he is being eyed by Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, as well as United, per Sky (h/t Lustig):

"

The important thing is he stays in the Bundesliga. It would be a pity if he left for Spain or England. Uli Hoeness once said that it was Bayern's duty to buy every German national team player. [...]

If I was in charge at Bayern I would think about [signing Reus]. With Reus this is not about economic reasons... this is about the chance to win titles. Maybe success in Dortmund is more emotional. But, at the end of the day, nobody is ever asked which title was more emotional.

"

Reus is a marvellous player—hence the immense interest in him—with an ability both to score and create bags of goals, as proven by him netting 16 times and assisting 13 in the Bundesliga last season, per WhoScored.

He would be a world-class addition to the United squad alongside Angel Di Maria, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata.

However, with United already well set in attacking and creative areas, and competition for Reus' signature set to be fierce, the Red Devils would potentially be better served concentrating on defensive reinforcements—like Strootman and Hummels.