Manchester United Transfer News: New Mats Hummels Bid as Dad Dashes Rumours
Manchester United are reportedly ready to launch a new bid for Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels, despite the centre-back's father insisting his son won't be leaving his current club in January.
Speaking to Sky News in Germany (h/t Daily Mail's Simon Jones), Hermann Hummels, who also acts as his son's agent, kept his comments on a potential transfer very brief. When asked, he said: "There is nothing to it."
The 26-year-old is widely regarded as the top defensive talent available on the open market, and after a failed attempt to bring the 2014 World Cup winner to Old Trafford during the summer, the Red Devils are ready to return with a £35 million offer in January, according to the Daily Mirror's David McDonnell:
"Manchester United are set to make a fresh £35million bid to land Germany World Cup winner Mats Hummels.
United failed to land Hummels in the summer but are ready to test Borussia Dortmund’s resolve to hold on to their captain and star defender with a new offer.
Hummels remains United’s top defensive target and there is a growing belief at Old Trafford that a deal can be done during this month’s transfer window.
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United's belief a deal could be struck is understandable—Die Schwarzgelben are enduring a nightmare domestic campaign, tied with SC Freiburg for last place in the Bundesliga standings.
A series of injuries has prevented Hummels from helping his team-mates change the squad's fate, but even when he has played, he's been nowhere near as good as he was during this year's World Cup.
Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe remains a big fan of his abilities, however, and he knows the German won't come cheap:
Hummels' ability with the ball at his feet combined with his physical prowess makes him a tantalising transfer target, but the former Bayern Munich man does have his question marks. Injuries have been a massive concern, as he's yet to complete a single campaign without missing time since joining Dortmund, via Transfermarkt.co.uk.
Die Schwarzgelben have lost a number of star players to transfers in the last few years, with Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski moving to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
But Hummels' situation is different. His contract still runs until the end of the 2017 season, per the Daily Mail's John Edwards, and as team captain, it's hard to fathom he would leave the club now, at their lowest point since the 2006-07 season.
Former Premier League star Jan Aage Fjortoft remains adamant there's no way Hummels abandons the ship in January:
Dortmund know they'll need their captain and star defender to turn the season around—Hummels' career was resurrected after he moved to the club from Bayern, and he owes his current fame to manager Jurgen Klopp, who believed in him back when he first joined the squad.
Both parties have done so much for each other, a transfer seems all but impossible at this point in time. Add to that the fact Hummels still has a chance to win the Champions League with Dortmund, and it becomes even less likely he'll entertain a move.
The centre-back should be United's primary transfer target during the summer window, providing he can show he's fully healthy in the second half of the 2014-15 season. But unless the Red Devils are willing to spend a ridiculous amount of money, a January move seems out of the question.
