Mats Hummels is one of the best defenders in the world who doesn’t play for a team that pays massive wages. Borussia Dortmund are good enough to keep stars for a while, but eventually, all true superstars have to leave and try their luck somewhere else. According to the Guardian, Manchester United are willing to break the current British record fee for a defender -- £32 million -- to sign him in January. Could it happen?
Does Manchester United signing Mats Hummels in January make sense?
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Why it makes sense
Manchester United are in serious need of quality central defenders. They shelled out money for Marcos Rojo over the summer, but they've still had to give way too many games to Tyler Blackett and Patrick McNair this season. Two of their central defenders, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, function as backup right backs as well. There might be four central defenders with first team experience on the United squad, but they've needed more than that this season, and none of those four have been particularly good.
Even if they're not in the Champions League, United can clearly still draw big time talent. And the presence of players like Angel Di Maria and Robin van Persie suggests that they'll be back there soon, even if they fall short this season. Plus, they offer astronomical wages. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona can offer the same kind of wages, but not significantly more.
So Mats Hummels doesn't get everything a player would want in a big move, but he gets enough. He'll make a ton of money, he'll probably be first choice right away and he'll be in the Champions League shortly.
Why it doesn’t make sense
Borussia Dortmund have had previous chances to sell off players in January to make lots of money, but have held out until the end of the season to make less. Or, in the case of Robert Lewandowski, nothing at all. Plus, Marco Reus has a release clause kicking in that's likely to be activated by a half-dozen clubs, so they won't want to lose two of their best players in the same window.
Hummels might also get to make a better move if he's patient. Real Madrid might want a younger upgrade from Pepe soon, John Terry won't be a significant contributor at Chelsea for long and Bayern Munich could use a new defender too. Dante is 31 and Holger Badstuber will probably never reach the standard of a first choice Bayern player again. Manchester United are still a huge club that pays big wages, but they're certainly not the biggest club that Hummels can move to.
Likelihood it happens
Mats Hummels will probably move on from Dortmund eventually, simply because they’ll never pay him the wages he’d fetch on the open market. They probably won’t even pay him half that. But they’ve been stubborn about selling in January, and if they’re forced to lose Reus, they’ll probably be stubborn again. We’re giving this a 3 out of 10 for now, but if United qualify for the Champions League? This will be much more likely to happen in the summer.
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