“Sorry for that gag” - Mats Hummels sends hilarious message to Liverpool superstar Van Dijk after being spotted training in his shirt
German defender Mats Hummels sent a hilarious message to Liverpool superstar Virgil van Dijk after being spotted sporting a jersey of the Dutchman in training. The 35-year-old made a post on Instagram that showcased him in a Van Dijk shirt, with an amusing caption to go with it.
Hummels is currently without a club, having parted ways with German giants Borussia Dortmund at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. A product of the academy of record Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, he has only played for them and their eternal rivals Dortmund thus far in his career.
Even at 35, Hummels played a crucial role in Die Schwarzgelben's scintillating run to the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League final. However, the Bundesliga outfit fell to a 2-0 defeat against Real Madrid in the final.
Despite such an impressive campaign, he couldn't agree upon a contract extension with Dortmund, making him a free agent. With bags of experience and an impressive resume, which also includes the 2014 FIFA World Cup title, he would be a top addition to any squad in the world.
Amid speculation about his future, Hummels made an Instagram post showing him training in a Liverpool shirt with Van Dijk's name on it. The post had a sly caption, which read:
“One of the best CB’s ever…wearing a Virgil van Dijk jersey. Sorry for that gag. You are a beast.”
Hummels seems to have acquired the top, a 2018-19 third kit, from Van Dijk during Liverpool's victorious UEFA Champions League campaign that season. The Reds beat Hummels' Bayern 3-1 on aggregate in the Round of 16.
Mats Hummels would be a solid addition to Liverpool's defensive stocks even as a rotational option
Despite being linked with moves for a number of players, Liverpool are yet to make a move in the summer transfer window. With only one month to go until the transfer deadline, new manager Arne Slot will be pushing to rebuild the squad before his first season in charge of the club.
One area of concern that the Reds would want to address in the window is the centre-back position. On the expiration of his contract, Joel Matip departed the club in July 2024, and Nat Phillips, who has entered the last year of his contract, is expected to leave as well.
Sepp van den Berg, who played for Bundesliga side Mainz on loan last season, has featured for Slot in pre-season but is likely to play a big role in his squad. As it stands, Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah are the only centre-backs likely to be important members of the first team.
Liverpool have been linked with star young centre-backs like Sporting's Goncalo Inacio and Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi. However, if they fail to land a long-term signing, Mats Hummels, who is still a free agent after his contract at Borussia Dortmund expired, could be a perfect short-term option.
Alongside club captain Virgil van Dijk, Hummels could form a formidable and experienced defensive duo, which could serve Slot well for the 2024-25 campaign. He could also play a solid role in mentoring youngsters like Konate and Quansah to prepare them for the future.
As of now, however, there has been no contact between Liverpool and Hummels.