Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
£25m
Likelihood – 7/10
Perhaps tired of considering moves for the entire Bayern Munich squad Louis van Gaal is apparently keen on Borussia Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels.
This is a move that does deserve closer inspection.
Without Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand the Man United back-line looks very threadbare. Jonny Evans has been used sparingly in the past 18 months but is a very decent performer on his day whilst Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are better suited to right-back and defensive midfield roles so a new centre-back, or two, should be high up on van Gaal’s list of priorities.
The 25 year old has seen his Westfalenstadion side fall behind domestic rivals Bayern Munich and may feel the time is right for a new challenge.
Hummels won back to back Bundesliga titles in 2010/11 and 2011/12 in the heyday of Jurgen Klopp’s reign but Dortmund have since sold a succession of their top talents and the departure of top goal-scorer Robert Lewandowski to the Allianz Arena could perhaps be the final straw.