Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer says it is time for Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels to move to the Premier League.

Hummels is known to be a primary target for Manchester United in the summer with Louis van Gaal rumoured to have made an approach for the defender in January.

The 26-year-old started his career with Bayern Munich before joining Dortmund and has always played his club football in Germany, winning two league titles under Juergen Klopp. But Beckenbauer says Hummels is ripe for a move to the Premier League.

“At 26, Hummels is at the best age to make the move to England,” he told Bild. “I can understand his thinking well.”

WHAT HAS HUMMELS HAD TO SAY?

After the 1-0 loss to Bayern at the weekend, Hummels said: "That doesn't mean that I am leaving, it just means I'm reflecting.

"There's no particular tendency one way or the other. It's just thoughts going through my mind. It will all become clearer in the coming weeks."

WHAT IS DORTMUND’S STANCE?

Only on Friday, chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke seemed to open the door to a potential sale of Dortmund’s star defender. He said: “In this moment this a total dummy discussion, because there is no offer. If one arrives, we will discuss it internally and make a decision.

But this decision will only be taken by BVB.

“The situation at Dortmund is like this: We’ve lost one major player each year but we don’t stop playing football.

To be clear: Mats knows his contractual situation, he described it in that interview himself. The decision where Mats will play next season will only be taken by BVB.”

SET TO GO THROUGH 

Van Gaal has made no secret of the fact he wants a ball-playing centre-back and Hummels, a World Cup winner last summer, is one of the best currently operating in Europe.

This deal seems almost certain to go through at the end of the season and England will be welcoming a very fine talent if it does.

THE VIEW FROM GERMANY

Michael Wollny, Eurosport Germany: "Beckenbauer also said that Hummels leaving BVB would be a huge loss for Dortmund.

His intention is not to say that it is worth leaving Dortmund, but that it is always interesting for a top player to prove that he can also succeed at another top club. Beckenbauer himself said that he once wanted to leave Bayern in 1974 and that he was close to Inter, but then Serie A closed the league to foreign players.

"So, the quote is not negative towards BVB, but focuses in general on the goal of a top player to experience a move to another top team.

In Germany, no one really takes much notice of what 'Der Kaiser' says. He's talked a lot in the past and it seen as a likeable grandpa [rather than a football authority]."

-