Manchester United Transfer News: Mats Hummels Rumours and Latest on Marquinhos

Mats Hummels' mooted move to Manchester United is a transfer rumour that just will not go away, and with the Red Devils still struggling for consistency at the back, he is still being pursued by the Old Trafford outfit.

Louis van Gaal continues to experiment at the back with a variety of formations, and while United's defence has improved over the season, it is far from the finished article.

The addition of the Borussia Dortmund centre-back would bring a level of experience and composure currently lacking for United.

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According to Ben Jefferson in the Express, with Arsenal seemingly winning the race to sign Villarreal's centre-back Gabriel Paulista, United will now step up their pursuit of the 26-year-old Hummels.

"Reports suggest that United will now intensify their efforts to bring Hummels—one of Louis van Gaal's top targets—to Old Trafford before the end of the transfer window," Jefferson writes.

The German international is a key component of Jurgen Klopp's Dortmund team, and the Bundesliga club will not let him go quietly, with Ben Nagle of MailOnline quoting Hummels' value at £30 million.

United certainly have the resources to stump up the cash, and Hummels may be inclined to leave Dortmund as they continue to struggle in the Bundesliga—they currently lie 17th.

However, Jefferson's suggestion that Van Gaal will be able to snap up Hummels in the current window seems unlikely, Sky Germany's Jan Aage Fjortoft insisting it is not a possible scenario:

Indeed, Hummels is unlikely to desert his club in the middle of a struggling season, and Van Gaal will have to return for him in the summer.

Another defensive target reportedly on United's radar is Marquinhos of Paris Saint-Germain, whose agent, Giuliano Bertolucci, has confirmed the interest, per Le Parisien (h/t Massimo Marioni in Metro).

"Last summer, the president of PSG declared a transfer for Marquinhos non-negotiable," the agent said. "We’ll see what his position is next summer. Many clubs are interested. Manchester United is one of them, it’s true."

The Brazilian centre-back is currently struggling to make PSG's first team ahead of David Luiz and Thiago Silva—he has started only 11 of their Ligue 1 games this season, per WhoScored—a factor that may see him interested in a move away from the French capital.

The 20-year-old joined PSG from Roma in 2013 for a hefty £24 million, thus the French champions will be expecting top dollar if United are to prise Marquinhos away.

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Nagle's piece suggests that PSG will be looking for over £50 million, despite the Red Devils valuing him at around £30 million.

That is a huge sum to pay for someone so young, and it would be a risky move from Van Gaal to bring Marquinhos in considering his lack of experience at the highest level.

However, he is a talented player and could fit into either a back four or back three while also having the ability to play at right-back.

Of the pair, though, World Cup winner Hummels looks to be the more reliable option, and United would do well to sign him up in the summer.