Manchester United Transfer News: Mats Hummels Fight Sparked by Rivals City

Manchester United will have to contend with bitter rivals Manchester City if they're to seal a deal for Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels.

According to James Cambridge of the Daily Express, Manuel Pellegrini is looking to launch a bid of his own for the centre-back, although it's suggested a staggering sum of £47 million would be required.

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Of the two, Louis van Gaal's side would be considered the outfit in far greater need of a player boasting Hummels' attributes.

United have had to cope without the talents of central defenders Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones for portions of this campaign, but even with those assets fit, a higher class of centre-back is required.

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It's well-founded the Red Devils are still coping with the departures of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic this past summer, and Hummels promises to add a more steadfast presence in the team's core.

In October, Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke admitted the club's struggle to compete with Europe's big guns financially could lead to a struggle in retaining their top star, per German newspaper TZ (h/t Ben Jefferson of the Express):

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There are players here at Dortmund who are happy to play for 20 per cent less money. But that's not the case when we're talking about 50 per cent less money. And that's where Real Madrid and Bayern Munich enter the fray. It's like they want all of our players.

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Bleacher Report's Spanish expert Guillem Balague has another target in mind for Van Gaal, having recently discussed the prospect of Atletico Madrid's Diego Godin arriving with Ryan Bailey:

City are in a state where they would be more able to afford missing out on Dortmund star. Even in the absence of injured captain Vincent Kompany, Martin Demichelis and summer signing Eliaquim Mangala have done their part to seal up Pellegrini's back line.

The Citizens currently boast the second-stingiest defensive record in the Premier League, having conceded 14 goals in 16 outings, just one fewer than league leaders Chelsea and fifth-place Southampton.

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World Cup winner Hummels has remained an instrumental cog in Klopp's lineup despite Dortmund's recent anguish, which sees them sitting 15th in the Bundesliga, recording two wins in their last 10 games.

One of those victories came against Hoffenheim in early December, a 1-0 result that, as the official Bundesliga YouTube account shows, came thanks to some smart initiative from Hummels:

Both United and City have the money at their disposal to make an attempt on the German international, even at the price quoted, but falling in line with Financial Fair Play rulings is a factor both outfits must take into account.

Winning this season's Premier League title would certainly help account for falling in line with those demands, but Dortmund have proven a difficult party to lure talent from in the past.

Bundesliga writer Jonathan Harding determines that Hummels is a "risky defender," having earned some reputation for starting movements from the back:

Van Gaal and Pellegrini may covet such an attribute, however, with the former in particular displaying his knack for making use of positionally versatile players.

Even with their 2014-15 demise, Dortmund may prove a more difficult negotiator than ever, although one can't account for the player's desires should he feel the grass looks greener in the Premier League.