According to reports, Arsenal are set to open talks with Borussia Dortmund over the signing of centre half Mats Hummels. The 25 year old was elevated to the position of captain of Jurgen Klopp’s side this summer and was part of the German squad that won the World Cup in Brazil scoring two goals in the process including the only goal in the quarter final win over France.
Reports claims that Arsenal are prepared to pay as much as £32 million for the Dortmund captain in order to prize him away from the bundesliga, a fee that would match the highest fee ever paid for a defender in the Premier League.
Mats Hummel’s link has come against the back drop of the injury concerns over Laurent Koscielny. The French international has struggled with an Achilles injury since the season started, and there are fears that he would need some time out in order for him to regain full fitness. The Mats Hummels stories which is in the press makes a huge sense for the club in terms of what it needs in central defence. Besides, Laurent Koscielny’s iffy Achilles, there is also the small matter of Per Mertesacker who has struggled to recapture his form from last season since he returned from the World Cup in August. And the issue with his lack of pace is still there, a situation that saw him replaced by the same Mats Hummels during the knock out stages of the World Cup in Brazil.
While it makes sense that the Mats Hummels is being linked to Arsenal especially with the issues the club currently have in defence, the link should however be wrapped with some measure of reality has the fee being brandish about for which he would be available seem out of reach for Arsenal in terms of what Arsene Wenger would be ready to spend for a defender. At £32 million, if reports are anything to go by, it is doubtful that Arsene Wenger would spend such sums to sign a defender. Besides, the Frenchman might be weary to breakup the partnership of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny with a big name signing; instead he might choose to bring in a player that might not usurp the burgeoning partnership currently ongoing between the German and French defenders.
No doubt, Arsenal are in dire need of signings in central defence, yet the Mats Hummels’ link is one in the hat of defenders being linked to the club, but making the deal happen is another thing.