Now this is more like it. There had been quotes from Ed Woodward this week that Manchester United will probably not invest in January unless key targets become available:
“However, we have targets we are looking at for next summer.
“Should any of them become available in January, which is obviously rare, we will consider acting. But it is a low probability.”
But The Guardian, who always seems to have a precise inside track on comings and goings at Old Trafford reports late Wednesday:
Louis van Gaal is exploring the possibility of signing Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels in January for what would be a British record transfer fee for a defender.
The Manchester United manager had earmarked the World Cup winner as a summer target but Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, is hopeful a deal can be done in the winter window. Dortmund may sell reluctantly, believing it would give them the best price for one of their prize assets.
Hummels has been a target for some time. But this fresh news suggests that a deal might be a goer sooner rather than later and his signing would be a massive coup for Manchester United, immediately bringing composure, authority and no little skill to the defence.
The current British record transfer for a defender is the £32m Manchester City paid Porto for Eliaquim Mangala in the summer. But any transfer for Hummels, mid-season, would likely break that record. He would have to leave The Champions League mid-season and that would require some serious financial remuneration to club and player.
Just about to turn 26, Hummels has become a stalwart for Germany and the captain of Borussia Dortmund this year. He was one of the stand out performers for the World Cup winners in Brazil.
Let’s see him in action. Manchester United fans: no-brainer?
