Van Gaal ready to outbid Barca for German centre-back

Football Express News understands that Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is ready to outbid his former club – Barcelona for German central defender Mats Hummels.

German defender Mats Hummels has been strongly linked with a summer move away from Borussia Dortmund after impressing for his country in their successful World Cup win last month.

Manchester United and Barcelona have been long interested in a summer move with the latter keen to improve their defensive options and find a suitable and more stable defender to partner Gerard Pique this coming season.

However, former Barca boss Louis van Gaal is keen to take on his former club and push their interest in Hummels.

United are ready to splash the cash on the former Bayern Munich defender and are understood to have prepared a bid in excess of £30m.

Meanwhile, reports in German press claim that Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp is looking at former Liverpool player Tiago Ilori as a possible replacement.