Mats Hummels remains Manchester United’s primary defensive target this summer, ahead of Valencia defender Nicholas Otamendi, according to reports in ESPN FC.
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Despite United feeling it would be very difficult to prise the 26-year-old away from Borussia Dortmund, Van Gaal is insistent Hummels is best suited to Manchester United’s approach according to the report.
Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director Michael Zorc said he had met with Mats Hummels and his father Hermann, who is also his agent, in which there was a “clear consensus” that he would remain with the Bundesliga club as a move for Manchester United looks highly unlikely.
He told German magazine Kicker: “It made sense that Mats was thinking about his future, but I always pointed out that we plan (for the future) with him.”
Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi has been heavily linked to Manchester United in recent days with the player keen to move to Old Trafford as per reports.
He, however, is only the back up should the signature of Hummels prove too difficult. It may prove to be quite a hassle to secure even him, with Valencia dismissing reports of the player agreeing personal terms with Manchester United.
The Spanish club are adamant that they will not sell Nicholas Otamendi, who was in the official La Liga team of the year, for anything less than his release clause of a 50m.
