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

Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has refused to rule out a summer sale of reported Manchester United target Mats Hummels but has insisted the club are under no pressure to sell their star defender.

As noted by Alec Fenn of Goal.com, Watzke revealed the club would consider any bids for German international in the transfer window and acknowledged BVB have established a penchant for selling big names:

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In this moment, this a total dummy discussion, because there is no offer. If one arrives, we will discuss it internally and make a decision. But this decision will only be taken by BVB.

The situation at Dortmund is like this: We've lost one major player each year, but we don't stop playing football. To be clear: Mats knows his contractual situation, he described it in that interview himself. The decision where Mats will play next season will only be taken by BVB.

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We're not thinking about the short-term. You only do that if you need money and that is not the case with us.

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Michael Sohn/Associated Press

Franz Beckenbauer even believes Hummels is at the perfect age to switch to England, per David Lynch of the Manchester Evening News. “At 26, Hummels is at the best age to make the move to England,” Beckenbauer told Bild, courtesy of Lynch. “I can understand his thinking well.”

The Westfalenstadion side have endured a difficult campaign so far this season, but as we can see courtesy of WhoScored.com (h/t ESPN FC), Hummels has still been one of the standout defenders in European football:

Indeed, the German has been a stalwart of Dortmund’s back line during their recent renaissance. His defensive skills are rounded and refined, his leadership qualities are exceptional, and in terms of distribution—as noted below by sports writer Jonas Giaever—there are few defenders who compare to the 26-year-old:

Bleacher Report’s Stan Collymore doesn’t think Hummels is quite in the world-class bracket, but his influence would make a big difference to what is a flimsy-looking back line:

There are few defenders in world football who look better suited to the bespoke principles of United boss Louis van Gaal than Hummels. He’s a calming influence and someone not only capable of making a massive difference in terms of defensive cohesion but in the tempo and precision with which the Red Devils go about their play whilst in possession, too.

PSG Out of Dani Alves Race

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Manchester United have lost a major competitor in their pursuit of Barcelona right-back Dani Alves, with reports suggesting that Paris Saint-Germain have pulled out of the race to sign the Brazilian.

According to L’Equipe (h/t Sport) the French champions feel as though Marquinhos is their best right-back option at the moment and Alves "wants more more than PSG are willing to offer."

Quoted in the same paper (h/t Football Espana) is the Ligue 1 club’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi who claimed: "PSG were interested in [Dani] Alves for a long time, but we aren’t anymore."

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

Here’s a look at what Alves could potentially offer potential suitors should he leave Barcelona this summer:

According to the Daily Mirror’s Football Spy, Sport claim that United have been in negotiations with the 31-year-old for a while now. Alves’ contract with the Blaugrana is due to expire at the end of season meaning he’s now allowed to discuss terms with other clubs ahead of a potential free transfer.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

During his time in Catalonia, Alves has established himself as one of the greatest full-backs on the planet. His effervescence on the right flank for Barcelona has been unabated down the years, and while the club have been revered for their tiki-taka style, the raw, direct threat posed by Alves gives the team a varied edge to their offensive forays.

The Brazilian doesn’t seem to be letting the speculation get to him, however, as we can see here courtesy of Richard Whittall of the Guardian:

Given the transfer sanctions imposed on Barcelona, losing Alves would be a major blow. While he’s approaching the twilight of his career, there are no players in Luis Enrique's squad capable of filling the role he plays with such distinction. As such, expect them to go all out to extend the Brazilian’s stay at the club, even if it’s just for another year.

Alves would bring plenty of experience to United and an attacking flair to the right-hand side of the pitch, but he’d only be a short-term and extremely lucrative fix. It’s a facet of the United squad that needs addressing with longevity in mind, and as such, Van Gaal should look to explore other options.