Arsenal Ready To Hijack Man Utd’s Move For €31m-Rated Star

The summer transfer window is now well under way and managers are working hard to strengthen their squads ahead of next season, so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Arsenal are ready to challenge Man Utd for Mats Hummels.

Arsenal are ready to try and hijack Manchester United’s attempts to sign €31m-rated Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels, according to reports.

United have been strongly linked with Hummels in recent months with new boss Louis van Gaal understood to have identified the German international as the man to build his new-look defence around at Old Trafford.

However, the former Premier League champions are struggling to agree a fee as Dortmund are reportedly holding out for at least €31m (£25m) for the 25-year-old and it appears there inability to strike a deal could be about to cost them.

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal are now ready to make a move for Hummel’s as boss Arsene Wenger looks to bring in a replacement for Thomas Vermaelen, and the Gunners have the funds available following the Belgian international’s €19m sale to Barcelona.

This news follows reports from last week that claimed the north Londoners had made contact with Dortmund and asked to be kept informed of any developments over the centre-back’s situation, so the speculation is growing that Arsenal are now serious players for Hummel’s signature.

Dortmund are understandably reluctant to see one of their key players leave but the Bundesliga club will find it difficult to turn down a large offer and both United and Arsenal have the money to tempt them into a sale.

Hummels has been one of the best central defenders in Europe over the past few years and he not only played a major role in helping Dortmund lift successive Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012, but he was also a rock at the back this summer in the World Cup winning German side.

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He would clearly be a sensational signing for either Arsenal or United, but while he’d be the player van Gaal would build his new-look defence around at Old Trafford, it would be interesting to see who Wenger picked as his first choice if the Gunners won the race for his signature as Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny have formed an impressive partnership at the back and it would be tough for the Frenchman to leave either out if Hummel’s arrived.