According to reports in the Daily Express, Arsenal are set to launch an ambitious bid to sign Mats Hummels when the window reopens.
The German international is regarded as one of the best centre-halves around, and proved his quality when he starred as his country won the World Cup during the summer. Shortly after the tournament finished he was installed as the new captain of Borussia Dortmund, as they attempted to stave off interest from Manchester United.
As it turns out Hummels was more than happy to remain with the Bundesliga club, not least because the Old Trafford club would have been unable to offer him the UEFA Champions League football he has become accustomed to at the Signal Iduna Park, which he has been able to call home since arriving from Bayern Munich in 2008.
However, according to the Express, the 25-year-old still has his admirers in the Premier League, with the tabloid claiming Arsene Wenger wants to team him up with Laurent Koscielny in the heart of the Arsenal back-four. This doesn’t make for good reading for Per Mertesacker, another German World Cup winner, who currently partners the Frenchman.
Should Hummels join the Gunners in the New Year, it would be a remarkable move for at least two reasons. Firstly, he has always maintained that he is happy with life at Dortmund, where he remains under contract until 2017. And secondly, he would forego any future involvement in the Champions League this season as he could be cup-tied for the competition.
Should Wenger decide that the former Allianz Arena youngster is the man he wants he would likely stand a better chance in the summer, particularly if Dortmund’s poor form in the league should continue. Jurgen Klopp’s have lost four of their opening seven fixtures this term, winning just twice, and are already 10 points behind leaders Bayern.
If Hummels does become available, though, the Emirates Stadium club would almost certainly face stiff competition from United. Louis van Gaal is said to be keen to land an established and top-quality central defender, particularly if his side return to the Champions League next season, and the Dortmund man is widely accepted to be his top target.
Should Wenger wait until the summer to make a firm move for Hummels, or does he need reinforcements in January? Let us know what you think below.
