Rio Ferdinand – not as solid as before. Youngsters still need time to get groomed. This is the right time for Manchester United to look for someone from outside to partner with Vidic. We feel that Borussia Dortmund defender Hummels fits the bill perfectly.
Strong Interceptor
Hummels is only 24 and is now one of the top young central defender in Europe. Hummels is a strong, elegant defender. His top quality is his football intelligence, which manifests itself in his supreme interception rate and his passing accuracy. His ball control is good for a defender. He can even pick a Cesc Fabregas-like pass from the back which is a very rare talent for any modern defenders.
A Perfect Fit
Hummels couldn’t have been better designed for United. Ferguson is known for deploying a footballing defender (Rio Ferdinand) in his back four to complement a more rugged partner (Vidic). With Ferdinand reaching the end of his top-level career, Hummels would be a direct replacement.
Transfer Value
Hummels is one of the key player for Borussia Dortmund. They would miss him more than any other. With this in mind, they would not sell for anything less than £20 million. But if the player is good, United always are ready to spend any required cash.