Manchester United Transfer News: Mats Hummels Reacts to Dortmund Exit Rumours

Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels has given a candid and honest response to speculation linking him with a move away from Signal Iduna Park, commenting that he "may leave someday."

The Bundesliga titans have endured shocking form this season and currently find themselves level on points with bottom side Freiburg. This has led to rumours some players may leave, with Hummels saying, per Sky Sports:

"

I am not really known as a globetrotter. I have been with two clubs in 26 years. Loyalty is important to me. The only thing I am concerned with right now is to play better than in the first half of the season. I was not satisfied at all with myself as one can imagine.

I have gotten offers from different clubs ever since I have been with Dortmund. That’s not a secret. I have always decided not to leave. I think I have made some good decisions and I want to make those in the future as well. 

I have never said I will stay until 2024 or 2030 or whenever, but I have stayed until today. I will stick to my way of not promising anything and maybe leave someday, instead of saying I will stay forever and then leave all of a sudden.

"

It's a statement which reaffirms that all is not well for the Gelsenkirchen club. Jurgen Klopp will struggle to retain his top talents unless matters improve before season's end, with the club's recent demise nothing short of astounding.

The Daily Mail's Chris Wheeler reported on Wednesday that £30 million is the figure attached to Hummels' signature, one of the few Dortmund players without a release clause in his contract.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

United manager Louis van Gaal will certainly see it as a positive twist, too, as his side in particular have struggled to unearth any elite performers in central defence.

David Lynch of the Manchester Evening News says a move is off the table this winter, but that Hummels could arrive next summer alongside Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman:

"

@daveh270 Doubt it this month mate. Strootman and Hummels in the summer.

— David Lynch (@DavidLynchMEN) January 12, 2015"

The news of Hummels' misgivings coincides with the Daily Star's Rhys Turrell alleging Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones will all be allowed to leave Old Trafford in 2015.

Defensive injuries have seen the Red Devils struggle for a consistent back line this season, but even when fully fit, those mentioned may not be deemed worthy of the vision Van Gaal is hoping for.

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

One would be forced to admit that while younger, Smalling, Jones and Evans have failed in attempting to plug the gaps left by Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.

Bleacher Report's Alex Dimond recently joined Ryan Bailey to discuss some of the latest speculation surrounding United, examining Athletic Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte as a potential acquisition:

Despite Dortmund's woes, Hummels' standards on the individual level haven't suffered as much in the past year. He was a crucial part of the German squad that won last year's World Cup and could once again look to fit the star profile in a more capable side.

This time last year, a move to Old Trafford would have seemed unlikely given the gulf between United's title ambitions and Dortmund's, but the German club have suffered a tremendous fall from grace.

It is worth noting that Hummels doesn't rule out a Dortmund stay. While admitting an exit isn't impossible, the 26-year-old also says he may prefer to stay in his native Germany as long as possible.

David Cartlidge of beIN Sports admits that Hummels' blend of talent, age and experience make him the ideal long-term investment:

Squawka's Match of the Dave also identifies the German as an ideal signing, saying that a commanding presence is required, something one would argue none of Evans, Jones or Smalling provide:

It's rare that footballers so coveted give such honest assessments of their club futures, but Hummels has given his suitors some hope of one day leaving the Westfalenstadion.

If he does, former Bayern Munich boss Van Gaal is likely to be one of the first managers hoping to swoop on his services, with Manchester United in need of a defensive totem so esteemed.