Hummels Flattered By United Interest But Says 'I Earn Enough In Dortmund'

Germany defender Mats Hummels has said he won't be lured by Manchester
United's riches.

The big-spending Reds are in desperate need of defensive
re-inforcements and 25-year-old Hummels was closely linked with a
summer move to Old Trafford.

But Hummels' latest comments suggest the player is more than happy in
the Bundesliga.

He said: "It's nice to hear that big clubs like that are interested in you.

"I take that as a compliment but it doesn't influence me in any way,
otherwise. We earn enough here in Dortmund.

"There will always be someone who can pay more than BVB but Dortmund
have made a lot of progress during my time here. In any case I believe
it's enough for me. If one day I start thinking about playing abroad,
money won't be the reason. I don't even think about that at the
moment. We still have so much further to go here."

United lost two long-serving centre-backs in the summer, with Rio
Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic leaving.

The problem for boss Louis van Gaal is their supposed successors,
Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, have struggled for form
and fitness.

Youngster Paddy McNair was elevated to the first team against West Ham
and did an admirable job, but there is no doubting someone of Hummels
ability and stature would improve the Reds.

However, he added: "There are some [who stay at one club for their
whole careers], and they are all really great players. Paolo Maldini
of Milan, for example, or Steven Gerrard. I would have been so happy
for him if he had won the championship with Liverpool. [Lionel] Messi
always plays for Barcelona. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Müller,
too, will perhaps play in Munich for ever.

"People often speak about the Dortmund 'project' in that context but I
don't really like that word," Hummels said. "It's too unemotional and
sounds so technical. I've been here for six and a half years and it's
simply more exciting and more difficult to win trophies as an
underdog.

"Everybody can win things with 25 superstars in the squad. At BVB,
every single player has more responsibility but also more opportunity.
It's difficult to win trophies with Dortmund but it's always possible.
And when it happens, the feeling is simply indescribable."