Manchester United set to revive interest in Mats Hummels amid defender's rift with Dortmund

Manchester United are set to revamp their interest in Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels with the player believed to have failed to adjust to life under new manager Thomas Tuchel. Hummels had been a regular for Borussia Dortmund during Jurgen Klopp's reign but his recent form has tailed off, insinuating talks of a possible move after the end of the season.

German publication Bild reports that the player can be on his way out of the club come the end of the season given the hostilities between the two parties, with United being favourites for his signature, having already pursued him last summer. Louis van Gaal is a huge fan of the defender, having worked with the German during his time at Bayern Munich.

The Red Devils need to replenish their squad, which has failed to provide the entertainment quotient that decades of United teams have provided over the years and find themselves struggling to qualify out of their group in the Champions League after an insipid stalemate with PSV Eindoven on Match Day six. The Red Devils failed to break down the Dutch club over 90 minutes, with Jesse Lingard missing a clean goal-scoring opportunity to put them ahead and into the second phase of the tournament.

Hummels will add some much needed experience to the backline, which is already the best in the league and his combination with Chris Smalling, who is yet to put a foot wrong this season, will be one to reckon with. However, Dortmund chief Hans-Joachim Watzke has refused to cower down to the reports of a possible rift and believes that the defender has been on the end of some very harsh criticism for his present form.

"Everybody gets criticised. Honestly, the massive criticism of the last days is unreasonably high in my opinion," he said, as quoted by Goal. "Today I read of a problematic relation between Mats and us. But that's definitely not true."

"Mats Hummels is a very important player for the BVB. He is our captain. I have an excellent relationship with him. Sometimes he is not too easy but that does not have to be a disadvantage. He is a very decent guy. We will support him entirely. There is nothing more to say about it," he added.