Manchester United Transfer News: Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan Deals Expected

Manchester United are "closing in" on the signings of Borussia Dortmund stars Mats Hummels and Ilkay Gundogan, according to German publication Bild (h/t Jamie Sanderson of Metro).

Sanderson's translation reads encouragingly for United fans: "They say Gundogan, who is already believed to have agreed terms with United, is certain to complete a switch to England, while Hummels is close to joining him in signing for the Old Trafford club."

Sport Witness also provided its take on Bild's article:

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While Sky Sports indicated Gundogan's transfer was "close" at the end of April, ESPN FC suggests United are keeping watch on the midfielder's situation:

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ESPN FC has also been told that United retain an interest in Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who has asked to leave Dortmund this summer, and -- while Bayern Munich, Juventus and Barcelona are also said to be contenders for his signature -- there will be no competition from Wolfsburg, who have dismissed any suggestion they want the Germany international.

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United boss Louis van Gaal desperately needs to invest during the summer and must strengthen most positions at the club. The Red Devils desperately need a powerful leader at the back—someone of Hummels' ilk—while adding a controlling midfield type is pivotal considering Michael Carrick's continued injury problems.

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Gundogan is a multi-functional midfielder who is capable of sitting deep and spraying balls or moving forward to provide inter-linking play. He'd fit in well alongside Ander Herrera, who always looks to get the ball out of his feet and move it on. With Carrick struggling to maintain fitness, Van Gaal should also seek out a specialist defensive midfielder.

Manchester Evening News writer Rob Dawson follows this line of thinking:

Hummels' ball-playing skills would also come in handy from the back, but first and foremost United would be getting a defender who reads the game extremely well. He isn't the quickest, but he provides physicality and dominance in the air. Placed alongside the improving Chris Smalling, speedy Marcos Rojo or perhaps another new signing, Hummels could excel for the Premier League club.

Sanderson's article suggests a price of £48.5 million would likely capture both players, offering excellent value in today's market. During the January transfer window, Simon Jones of the Daily Mail suggested Hummels could set United back £37 million on his own.

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Next season represents a key year in the development of Van Gaal's squad. United need two wins from their final three matches to secure Champions League football for next season, but whether or not this happens, the Dutch manager must push United closer to champions Chelsea in 2015-16. An 18-point gap currently separates the two clubs, who, admittedly, are at completely different points in their development arc.

Hummels and Gundogan would be fantastic captures for United. However, the side needs much more, including a new striker, to mark themselves as a genuine threat to Chelsea's potential era of dominance.