- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have been offered the chance to sign a hugely experienced defender who is available on a free transfer.
The summer transfer window is open now, and clubs such as Tottenham and Newcastle will be keen on making new signings to enhance their respective squads.
Both Tottenham and Newcastle finished outside the Premier League top four last season, and the two clubs will be determined to end up in the UEFA Champions League places in the 2024-25 campaign.
Not only are Spurs and Newcastle going to compete for a top-four spot next season, but they could now also be in the battle to sign Mats Hummels.
Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Chelsea in Mats Hummels talks
Sources have told HITC that Premier League clubs have been alerted to the fact that Hummels is open to moving to England after leaving Borussia Dortmund.
The 35-year-old former Bayern Munich defender is a free agent now following his departure from Dortmund last week.
The Germany international, who was one of the best centre-backs in the world in his prime, has made it clear he wants to stay in Europe, shunning interest from the Saudi Pro League and Major League Soccer.
Interest has emerged from Italy, Spain and France, but HITC understands that there is interest in Hummels from clubs in England as well.
Sources have told us that representatives have been making enquiries to garner interest. HITC can reveal that Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle, West Ham United and Everton have all been spoken to.
Interesting, Spurs were linked with Hummels back in December 2018 when he was at Bayern.
It now remains to be seen if Hummels attracts any offers from any of the clubs in the Premier League.
Mats Hummels has ‘an outstanding personality’
Hummels is rated highly in the footballing community, especially at Dortmund.
The defender spent a total of 13 years at Dortmund and was a key figure in the team reaching the final of the UEFA Champions League last season.
Lars Ricken, the German club’s Managing Director for Sport, described the defender as “one of the driving forces behind Borussia Dortmund over the last 15 years”.
BVB Sporting Director Sebastian Kehl said: “In Mats Hummels we are without doubt losing an outstanding personality, maybe one of the last of its kind in football.
“Mats hasn’t just had a huge impact on Borussia Dortmund throughout his career – he has also taken the art of being a centre-back to a whole new level around the world.”
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