Mats Hummels Transfer Not Right for Manchester United, Says Owen Hargreaves

Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves doesn't believe Mats Hummels is the answer to the Red Devils' defensive problems.

Hargreaves—who is no stranger to playing in the Bundesliga after a terrific career at Bayern Munich—believes the Borussia Dortmund centre-back is "too slow" to significantly improve Louis van Gaal's side. Although he views Hummels as a "super passer," Hargreaves made his feelings known during a recent BT Sport broadcast:

Hummels continues to be linked with a move to Old Trafford, per Andy Mitten of ESPN FC, but Hargreaves doesn't believe the captain of the Bundesliga's bottom club should be the "measuring stick" of who United can attract, as transcribed from his interview. One quality defender cannot improve the fortunes of a poor team, so it's useful to consider Hummels at his best, during Germany's 2014 World Cup win.

He is proven at the highest level and certainly has the quality to improve upon current United centre-backs Phil Jones, Jonny Evans, and Chris Smalling, not to mention young prospects Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett. His main attributes are excellent vision, tackling and reading the game. Despite his lack of speed, he is also clever at taking up smart positions, as highlighted by BT Sport below:

With that said, Hummels would struggle to significantly improve United's defence by himself. None of Van Gaal's aforementioned players have proven themselves as leaders and it wouldn't be a surprise to see any drop down the Premier League to a smaller club. Like we saw with Nemanja Vidic during David Moyes' tenure, a single world-class defender is rarely enough to impress.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Hummels could represent the start of a more expansive, more ambitious United, though. The main question should be this: Is he worth the reported £47 million Dortmund want for his services, per the Express? While there's no doubt he is a step up in quality compared to what United currently offer, this is where the main doubts should creep in.

Bundesliga specialist Clark Whitney believes Hargreaves contradicts himself and that the England international would change his mind if Hummels eventually touched down in Carrington:

B/R UK's Sam Tighe recently offered his thoughts on the player:

Despite consistent mistakes being made in defence, only Premier League leaders Chelsea and Southampton have conceded less than United this season, per WhoScored.com. Van Gaal likes his team to pass assuredly around the back—something rarely possible with the current options—so this is likely where Hummels' main qualities would improve the team.

Granted, he is slow on the turn and struggles to accelerate, but he offers a presence. United have plenty of leaders across the pitch—David De Gea, Michael Carrick and Robin van Persie—so Van Gaal needs to find the same in defence.

His failure to do so during the January transfer window could leave United short of making the Champions League places, a situation which may stop Hummels from joining altogether.