Latest signing rumour.......Mats Hummels for £18m

[PSRB]

[Pokster]

[bostonbrian]

[halfsharkalligatorhalfman]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[redgunamo]

[One Wilf Copping]

I find this rumour hard to believe. It's not the first time he's been linked, but what would this mean about the role of Vermaelen and Koscielny in the squad? Or is Per supposed to go the other way in part-exchange?

Hummels is an excellent defender, but his biggest asset is arguably his general attitude. He's intelligent, a natural leader and an inspirational character in the dressing room and on the pitch. His father's a professor, mother a journalist (I think), and he doesn't take the financial side of the game too seriously. He approaches the game as a profession and a passion, but really doesn't put money first.

In the past he's said he'd like to play abroad as much as anything else as a life experience as for the football and he would fit into the culture at Colney.

Would Dortmund sell? Maybe, but probably not at 18m unless it's stipulated in his contract as a release fee. It's risky because if he does go, it could trigger a turning point for Dortmund as Subotic (probably the better defender – at least purely defensively) would probably follow him and younger names like Götze and Reus would also consider their position.

With the arrival of Pep and Bayern's huge financial potential (and the fact they've almost paid off their share of the costs for the Allianz Arena) Dortmund are now looking at years in the shadow of Bayern. Playing for second place every year isn't an exciting challenge. Klopp may be feeling the same way. That could all encourage Hummels to think it's time for a change.

One other factor is that Dortmund also have a fantastic ready-made replacement in third-choice centre-back Felipe Santana...

My guess though is that Hummels will want to play out this season and see how far Dortmund can go in the Champions League – they have a genuine outside chance of springing a surprise, but that he will then consider his future in the summer.

[Curly]

Do bees have knees?
From memory (poor) the answer was yes/no

[redgunamo]

that Hummel is German for bumblebee :thumbup:

[One Wilf Copping]

Deeply, deeply disturbing:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gSkfutNyL8I/T7vPTsx_RzI/AAAAAAAAAUU/2k1AMbnWcKU/s1600/bees+knees.jpg

[Curly]

[Curly]

[Red N White Army]

[redgunamo]

[redgunamo]

http://bc01.rp-online.de/polopoly_fs/1.3130771.1357895285!/httpImage/4290161288.jpg_gen/derivatives/rpo32_457/4290161288.jpg

[Red N White Army]

As closely as I would like to.

[Curly]

An intelligent,well written post.
Awimb hell in a handcart etc

[PSRB]

[redgunamo]

Probably have to be first choice, if he came to us. Problematic.

[Red N White Army]

Not that our occasional poor defending is down to the CBs alone of course.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

In summary a top level footballer who would get offers from better sides than us.

[redgunamo]