Two surprise Premier League clubs are reportedly interested in signing experienced German defender Mats Hummels.
The 35-year-old is currently a free agent after leaving Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund upon the expiration of his contract at the end of last season.
Hummels spent 13 years of his career at Dortmund and earned legendary status at the German club where he made a total of 508 appearances in all competitions across two separate spells.
The veteran centre-back, a World Cup winner in 2014 and capped 78 times by Germany, played an integral role as BVB reached last season's Champions League final, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium in June.
Hummels has refused to rule out retiring from football, but he could be tempted by one last challenge in the Premier League.
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Brighton touch base with Hummels
According to Sky Sports News, Brighton & Hove Albion have made contact with Hummels over a sensational switch to the Amex Stadium.
The report adds that the Seagulls are interested in signing a new centre-back this summer and have been exploring the defensive market since the arrival of 31-year-old head coach Fabian Hurzeler.
Hurzeler, who is four years younger than Hummels, joined Brighton from St Pauli in July following the departure of predecessor Roberto De Zerbi.
Brighton have already made five summer signings, spending in excess of £75m to recruit Yankuba Minteh, Mats Wieffer, Ibrahim Osman, Malick Yalcouye and Amario Cozier-Duberry.
However, the Seagulls are yet to bolster their options in defence, with captain Lewis Dunk, Jan Paul van Hecke, Adam Webster and Igor Julio among the current centre-back options at Hurzeler's disposal.
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West Ham to rival Brighton for Hummels?
Brighton are not the only English club interested in Hummels, as West Ham United are also said to be monitoring the German's situation.
The Hammers have already experienced a busy summer transfer window, with midfielder Guido Rodriguez becoming the club's sixth new arrival on Tuesday.
New head coach Julen Lopetegui has wasted little time in reshaping his squad and has already made one statement signing in defence with the £40m addition of Max Kilman from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Kilman is one of four centre-back options within Lopetegui's first-team squad along with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Nayef Aguerd and captain Kurt Zouma, although the latter two have been linked with a possible exit from the London Stadium.
The likes of Bologna and Bayer Leverkusen have also been credited with an interest in Hummels, although the former are understood to have now ended their pursuit of the defender, while the latter are believed to be prioritising a move for another free agent in the form of Joel Matip.
Oliver Thomas
