Owen Hargreaves believes that Manchester United should not be looking at signing Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels since the defender may struggle with the pace of the Premier League.
Hummels has been linked with an exit from Dortmund for quite a while, but it finally is set to come in the summer due to the struggles at the German club. Dortmund have been flirting with relegation for much of the season and if they are relegated, they are likely to sell players likeHummels. United have been looking at the defender for a long time.
Louis Van Gaal has also given the go-ahead to sign the player after he was first scouted by former manager David Moyes. Hargreaves, though, says that the pace ofHummelswill be a major problem for United to deal with.Hummels is not the fastest defender in the world and he will easily be found it with the current style of play at United. Since Van Gaal favours a 3-5-2 formation, the club has also been keeping a high line. The pace of players like Phil Jones and Daley Blind has meant that United have not encountered too many problems with opposition exploiting the spaces in behind the defenders.
“He’s a super, super ball-playing centre back but I don’t think he can defend, he’s too slow.I think he’s a nice football player, he’s easy on the eye, but United need somebody physical, a presence.He’s Franz Beckenbauer, the new version, a super passer but I think that if I’m Manchester United I want [Nemanja] Vidic, I want [Vincent] Kompany.He’s the captain of Borussia Dortmund, they’re last in the Bundesliga. Is that the measuring stick for Manchester United? I’m not so sure,” said Hargreaves. Hummels has featured in 13 league appearances this season and Dortmund sit one point above the relegation zone.