Manchester United transfer news: Louis van Gaal monitoring Mats Hummels as United 'prepare' £32m offer for Germany defender

United have suffered a string of injuries to their defenders this season and could look to sign the Borussia Dortmund centre-back in January

Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels (Getty Images)

Manchester United could pick up where they left off in January after reports emerged linking them with a major bid for Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels.

The Germany international is one of the most sought-after centre-backs in world football and with Dortmund struggling in the league, the belief is an exit could soon materialise as he seeks to step up a level.

While Dortmund have established themselves as a major force both in Germany and in Europe, they still play second fiddle to heavyweights Bayern Munich, and Dortmund’s below par start to the Bundesliga – they are languishing down in 15th with 17 points separating them from leaders Bayern – could lead to Hummels seeking a move away from the club.

Both United and Arsenal have been linked with a move for the 25-year-old World Cup winner, as have Bayern Munich, but it appears the Manchester club may be ready to step up their pursuit in the hope to secure him in the near future.

One problem would be Dortmund’s reluctance to sell until the end of the season at least, but United are being linked with a £32m bid in January to test their resolve and attempt to ease their own defensive crisis.

Borussia Dortmund have endured a frustrating start to the season (Getty Images)

To-date, United have suffered an incredible 41 injuries since Louis van Gaal took over from the sacked David Moyes, and the majority of those have come in the defence where the club are down to their bare bones. Luke Shaw and Angel di Maria were the latest big names to pick up small injuries that could keep them out of this weekend’s Premier League clash with Arsenal, with Van Gaal currently assessing 12 different injury concerns ahead of the trip to London.

Another Dortmund player who has been linked with a summer exit is influential winger Marco Reus, who has a reported £24m release clause in his contract that is attracting attention from Europe’s best clubs.

Reus has been heavily hampered by injury this season having missed the World Cup in the summer, but that has not put off the likes of United, Chelsea and arch-rivals Manchester City in maintaining an interest in the 25-year-old.

United have already spent over £150m this season in an attempt to return to European competition at the first time of asking, and a move for either Hummels or Reus would increase the pressure on Van Gaal to succeed with his expensively assembled squad.