Barcelona have reportedly made Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels as their number one transfer priority in the summer, report Bild. The 27-year-old has been long linked with the club after multiple seasons of consistent performances.
Barcelona are on the lookout for another exceptional ball-playing defender to partner Gerard Pique and have scouted multiple defenders including Paris Saint-Germain's Marquinhos and Athletic Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte. Barcelona's Sporting Director, Ariedo Braida, has scouted the 27-year-old multiple times this season already.
The report that both Arsenal and Manchester United are heavily interested in signing the Borussia Dortmund man but if the Catalans come calling, he wouldn't think twice about making the switch.
Speaking to reporters earlier this season, Hummels agreed that at the end of the season lies a huge decision. "I don’t necessarily want to, but I have to make a big call," Hummels said.
"If I sign a long-term deal now, I will be 31 or 32 when it expires. And right now I don’t plan on playing until I am 38.
"I want to play a certain kind of football, but I also want to win titles."
Hummels is also reportedly very particular about playing in the UEFA Champions League which Barcelona can offer while both Arsenal and Manchester United are yet to prove themselves in the league to seal qualification.
The former Bayern Munich defender has made over 200 appearances for the Ruhr club while also having represented his club more than 40 times. Given his age and his ability, a move to either Arsenal or Barcelona seems likely with both sides desperately in need for a central defender.
Mats Hummels' Borussia Dortmund teammate Neven Subotic has also been linked with moves to the aforementioned teams with Barcelona keeping a keen eye on the player. While Dortmund might sell one of the two stars this summer, its highly unlike that the both of them will be on the move.
