---
title: "Boateng over Hummels for Owen Hargreaves"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2015/04/06/boateng-over-hummels-for-owen-hargreaves/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Man Utd News"
published: "2015-04-06T18:38:33Z"
modified: "2015-04-13T17:04:45Z"
---

# Boateng over Hummels for Owen Hargreaves

**Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves believes that German international defender Mats Hummels is not the man his former club needs to strengthen their defence.**

The Borussia Dortmund captain has been strongly linked with a summer move to Old Trafford with a £35 million transfer apparently in the pipeline. But Hargreaves, who made just 39 appearances in an injury-ravaged spell at United, believes Hummels isn’t the right man to bolster his former sides’ defence.

Hargreaves believes that Hummels’ playing style wouldn’t suit van Gaal’s team. “He’s a ball player”, he said. “But he’s not the quickest and if you’re going to be high up the pitch, he’s not the quickest turner and I think he could get exposed”.

Although many have felt that United are lacking in a defensive leader in the mould of Nemanja Vidic this season, Hargreaves told BT Sport that Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng, once of Manchester City, would be better suited.

“I think Man United need a powerful defender – a Boateng-esque player, who is very physical and very aggressive and that is definitely not Hummels”.

The transfer rumours will continue to gather pace as the season draws to a close and with Hummels being one of many defensive targets being linked with a summer transfer to United, we will no doubt hear plenty more on this story.