Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Mats Hummels and Gareth Bale Rumours

Manchester United’s starting XI for next season could be one of the most exciting in European football, with reports suggesting that they’ve been handed a double boost in respect of two massive transfer targets.

The first potential acquisition is a sensible one, with the Daily Mail (h/t Alex Harris of the Daily Star) claiming Mats Hummels is ready to shun any offer from Arsenal in favour of a move to the Red Devils. It’s also claimed United have made their interest tangible in the form of a £35 million bid, although Borussia Dortmund are not willing to conduct any business until the summer.

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Reports today suggest United have firmed up their interest in Hummels with a £35m bid.

[...] The Daily Mail believes Hummels prefers a move to Old Trafford over the Emirates but Dortmund's determination to hold on to their captain could keep a move on ice until the summer.

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Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe examines the kind of qualities Hummels would bring to Old Trafford:

Hummels would be a wonderful acquisition for United. He’s a player who is multifaceted in his defensive diligence and would provide a much-needed presence at the heart of the back line. His ability to bring the ball out from defence and start attacks is also something that surely appeals to Louis van Gaal.

The bookmakers are becoming increasingly confident a deal could happen too, per SkyBet:

Nonetheless, as noted by Jan Aage Fjortoft, it’s highly unlikely that Dortmund will sell their star defender mid-season in light of their current predicament:

It’s a move that may have to wait until the summer, but if he's available, Hummels is a defender who United must make sure they’re in the market for. A world-class centre-back would add so much to this team, and on the face of things, there are few better players to fill that role in Van Gaal’s side than the German.

Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The second boost reportedly received comes in United’s supposed pursuit of Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale.

According to the Express (h/t Colin Harvey of the Daily Star) Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus remains Los Blancos’ primary target, and he’s been assured that he will get the playing time he needs at the Santiago Bernabeu because Bale will be sold.

The piece goes on to suggest United are willing to part with a staggering £120 million for the Welshman. Here’s what they’d be getting for that:

Despite numerous reports at odds to the suggestion that Bale is not wanted at Madrid, rumours about his future at Real are refusing to fizzle out. Bleacher Report Spanish football expert Guillem Balague was the latest high-profile figure to insist that the the winger is going nowhere for the time being, per Sky Sports:

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Real Madrid insist he is not for sale. The player and his entourage insist he is happy and he only really just arrived at Madrid.

He has to improve, the defensive work has to be more efficient, but having to improve doesn’t mean leaving a club.

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Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Indeed, while Hummels would be a classy and required capture, Bale would be a rapacious purchase for United. Van Gaal is not short of options at the sharp end of the pitch, and although the Welshman is a wonderfully dynamic forward, spending £120 million on him would be absurdly indulgent on the Red Devils’ part.

Another player who’s been linked with United, per Charles Perrin of the Express, but isn’t really needed is Wesley Sneijder. But according to Galatasaray’s vice-president Abdurrahim Albayrak, the Dutchman is settled in Istanbul and will not be going anywhere unless his release clause is met, per NTVSpor (h/t Nima Tavallaey Roodsari of GianlucaDiMarzio.com):

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We don't want to sell Sneijder. He has a minimum release fee clause of €20 million and we won't sell him for any less than that.

Our players are unhappy? This is a big lie. Our players are happy in Turkey. Sneijder will be with us throughout the second part of the season.

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Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Sneijder was linked with United long before Van Gaal became manager, and although he's past his best, the Dutchman remains a fine midfield playmaker. But as is the case with Bale, he’s a player who’d come into a squad already loaded with players of a comparable stylistic make-up.

Of the trio linked, Hummels is the player the Red Devils should target. He’s got the quality to make a major impression at the heart of the team’s defence and could be the ideal man to fill the void left by the departures of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.