Manchester United have once again been linked with the signing of Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund.
According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United are likely to beat Arsenal to the signature of the German centre-back because of Dortmund’s asking price.
Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has long spoken of his admiration for Hummels and he has considered making a bid for him in the past. However Dortmund’s estimation of $50 million for the player is more than what Arsenal are willing to spend.
Manchester United on the other hand don’t have any qualms about spending that sum of money on the player. The Mirror has now reported that Louis Van Gaal’s side are firm favorites to capture the World Cup winning defender, who impressed throughout the tournament in Brazil last summer.
Most Manchester United fans are adamant that they need an imposing centre-back at the heart of their defence. The departures of both Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand have been cited as the reason for United’s shakiness at the back over the opening games of the season.
Van Gaal, who joined the club in the summer following the sacking of David Moyes, has tried to replace the defensive stalwarts, who were instrumental over the best part of the last decade for Manchester United’s dominance of the Premier League, with a number of other players who most fans believe simply haven’t been up to the task.
Marcos Rojo, who was bought from Sporting Lisbon in the summer, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Jonny Evans, Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair have each played in the position this season.
Matts Hummels’ arrival would certainly bring stability to the position and it would also allow Van Gaal to manoeuvre the aforementioned players around the imposing German in order to build a stable defensive platform.
However there is still clearly talent in the players that Manchester United currently have at their disposal in the position.
Chris Smalling has been prone to mistakes in the past, especially when he got sent off against Manchester City after just 40 minutes, but he has already shown a maturity in the games since his suspension that prove he has learned from his mistake.
Jonny Evans and Phil Jones are hugely talented, but struggle with injuries, Marcos Rojo has been irrational but for the most part has impressed in his first games at the club, while Blackett and McNair have shown the raw ingredients that suggest they could excel in the position if they are given the minutes to do so.
Hummel’s addition would help to bring the best out of each of them, and it might also be the final piece of the puzzle that then pushes Manchester United on to reach the heights that they previously occupied with gusto.
[Image via Focus]