Transfer News: United Linked With £29.5m German | Liverpool Youngster Off To Spain?

Although the summer transfer window is officially closed that doesn’t stop clubs working hard behind the scenes to prepare for future signings, so we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the latest gossip. Today, Manchester United are linked with Mats Hummels and Liverpool youngster Tiago Ilori could be off to Spain.

United Eye Hummels

First up and the Express are reporting that Manchester United are ready to go head-to-head with Barcelona for the signing of Borussia Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels.

The German international has become one of the most highly-rated defenders in Europe in recent years after helping Dortmund to successive Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012 and played a key role in guiding the club to the final of the Champions League last season.

The Express claim United are now ready to fight Barca for the 24-year-old but will have to stump up the full value of his £29.5m release clause if they want to lure him away from Germany.

David Moyes knows that Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are coming to the end of their illustrious careers and Hummels would make for an ideal replacement. But the Catalans are also on the look-out for a successor to Carles Puyol and Hummels has previously admitted he’d be interested in a move to the Nou Camp.

 “Barca is one of the clubs that would interest me.” Hummels is quoted as saying by the Express.

Dortmund are understandably reluctant to part ways with the defender but the newspaper suggests they are preparing for life without him and have lined up Basel’s Fabian Schar as a potential replacement.

Valencia Want Ilori

Next up and the Daily Mail are reporting that Valencia are keen on signing Liverpool’s young defender Tiago Ilori on loan this January.

The 20-year-old moved to Anfield from Sporting Lisbon for £7m this summer and is tipped to be one for the future, but with Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Mamadou Sakho and Kolo Toure all currently ahead of him in the pecking order, first team football is going to be hard to come by this season.

A  loan move may therefore be beneficial for all parties and the Mail claim La Liga outfit Valencia are ready to offer Ilori the chance of more regular action during the second half of the season, with a 6-month loan deal set to be tabled when the transfer window re-opens in January.

Valencia are in desperate need of defensive cover with Adil Rami set to join AC Milan in the winter after falling out with the club, and the Frenchman is already training with the Italian side.

Read more Liverpool transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

So there’s your latest dose of transfer news. Would United fans like the club to sign Hummels? Do Liverpool fans think Ilori would benefit from a loan move? Share your views below.