Mats Hummels ' eagerly-anticipated move to Manchester United looks increasingly likely to happen after it emerged he made a promise to Sir Alex Ferguson three years ago . As revealed by Sportsmail at the time , then-United manager Ferguson made a trip to Germany for the 2011-12 Cup final , in the hope of tying up an audacious triple transfer for Hummels , Robert Lewandowski and Shinji Kagawa . In the event , he only managed to lure Kagawa to Old Trafford after Dortmund stood firm over their other two prized assets , in the wake of a stunning victory over Bayern Munich . Mats Hummels ( right ) tussles with Giorgi Chanturia of Georgia in Sunday 's Euro 2016 qualification clash . Hummels has been dedicated to Borussia Dortmund but is now ready to quit after a dreadful season . But sources in Germany have revealed a conversation took place between Ferguson and Hummels and that the Dortmund centre-back gave his word that , if he moved abroad , it would be to Old Trafford . With the 26-year old now indicating he is ready to quit the Westfalenstadion at the end of a traumatic Bundesliga campaign for Dortmund , after years of remaining loyal to them , it confirms he is likely to become the cornerstone of a new-look United defence next season . Dortmund will hold out for around £36million for their stylish defender but that will not stop Louis van Gaal pushing through a deal as part of another lavish spending spree this summer . Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign Hummels by making a personal trip to Dortmund back in 2012 . But Ferguson was only able to land Shinji Kagawa , who has since returned to the German giants .
Alex Ferguson have made Mats Hummels a top transfer target . United have long wanted the Borussia Dortmund defender . Sir Manchester United tried to sign him in 2012 but failed . The German promised Fergie that he would join one day , however . CLICK HERE for all the latest Alex Ferguson news .