MANCHESTER UNITED are planning to move for Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels next summer.

United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward today revealed the club's latest financial figures and indicated that their long-term focus is on next summer's transfer window, instead of this January. 

Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal spent big over the summer in a bid to regain United's Champions League place and the club hierarchy are set to back him next year with Hummels his top target.

In a conference call to investors following the financial announcement, Woodward said: "Nothing has changed since what I communicated at the last conference call.

"We are not looking to enter the market for short-term fixes.

"However we have targets that we are looking at for next summer. Should any of them become available in January - which obviously is rare – we will consider acting. But in terms of expectations-setting we all need to recognise that is a low probability."

According to recent reports, Bundesliga club Dortmund are likely to demand in the region of £47m for Hummels.

They are likely to face competition from Arsenal, who are also interested in the Germany international.

“We are not looking to enter the market for short-term fixes”

                                                                                 Ed Woodward

 

he financial results highlighted the effect of failing to qualify for this season's Champions League. 

United played two fewer matches in the financial quarter than in the equivalent period in 2013-14, which led to a drop of £4.2m in matchday income.

Broadcasting revenue was also down 13 per cent to £16.8m with no television cash coming in from UEFA.

The club's debt rose slightly to £362.2m but commercial revenue increased to £59.9m, thanks to new sponsorship deals.

United slashed their staffing bill by £3.5m due "primarily to lower player wages".

The drop in wages is a result of the club not having to pay out bonuses for playing in the Champions League, as well as the culling of highly-paid players including Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra, Ryan Giggs, Danny Welbeck, Bebe, Javier Hernandez, Tom Cleverley and Shinji Kagawa.

Woodward also hailed the impact of United's academy in producing players and the success of the under-21 team, as well as the continuing rise in sponsorship.

"There is the unique power of the club to transcend the industry," he said.