Post by jockcas on Jul 30, 2013 13:46:33 GMT
Manchester United manager David Moyes is expected to move for Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels, after a pre-season tour of Asia revealed defensive frailties in his new side.
United conceded nine goals in five friendly outings against opposition from Thailand, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong in Moyes' first outings as United boss.
That poor defensive showing is believed to have convinced Moyes and his United set-up that the current back line is in need of serious investment.
Moyes experimented with five different central defensive partnerships in pre-season but appears to have been unimpressed with what he saw of alternative options to the senior pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.
Club captain Nemanja Vidic missed United's tour with fitness problems related to sciatica, whilst question marks remain over Ferdinand's ability to consistently perform at the top level at the age of 34.
Moyes is now expected to dip into the summer transfer market in order to boost his back-line and Hummels is believed to top the Scot's wish-list.
Hummels' role in Borussia Dortumund's assault on the Champions League last season appear not to have gone unnoticed in the newly-installed United camp and Old Trafford negotiators are believed to be planning an approach for the German international.
Since making his Bundesliga debut in what was his only ever appearance for Bayern Munich, Hummels has gone on to make a total of 148 league appearances for Dortmund.
The imposing centre-back would not come on the cheap however, with Dortmund likely to hold out for an offer in excess of £25 million.