Goetze worth £50m, warn Dortmund as Man United closein on Hummels

By John Edwards and Chris Wheeler
Last updated at 11:41 PM on 16th December 2011

Sir Alex Ferguson has been warnedit will take a bid of £50million to lure his top midfield target Mario Goetze away from Borussia Dortmund, but the Manchester Unitedboss could make a £15m bid for teammate Mats Hummels.
Adding creativity to his midfield has long been the United manager's main transfer priority, and repeated spying missions to Germany this season have confirmed 19-year old Goetze as his preferred choice.
Hefty price tag: Mario Goetze (right) will cost £50m, say Dortmund
Hefty price tag: Mario Goetze (right) will cost £50m, say Dortmund
Sportsmailcan reveal that Ferguson has sent scouts to watch the attacking midfielder four times and that two scouts were despatched to Germany's recent game against Holland.
Arsenal feared they would be quoted at least £30million, after admitting theirinterest last month, and the teenager's valuation has soared even higher after enquiries from Real Madrid and some ofItaly's leading clubs.
Responding to theinterest from United and Arsenal, Dortmund's top administrator, managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke, told them to forget any thought of trying to sign him towards the end of the January window, when he returns to fitness, or even at the end of the season.
He even appeared to aim a warning shotin the direction of Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour, as he said: 'AllI can say to all these clubsis they should save themselves the cost of a phone call, because they will be wasting their time and money contacting us. Evenif someone rides out of the desert and makes us an offer,it would make no difference. Mariois staying here.'
Fergusonis also weighing up a bid for Dortmund centre back Hummels after losing Nemanja Vidic.
Though just 23, Hummels has 12 Germany caps and caught Ferguson’s eye during a series of checks on Gotze.
Warned: Sheik Mansour
Warned: Sir Alex Ferguson
Warned: Sheik Mansour (left) and Ferguson (right) facing big money decision
Goetzeis under contract until the summer of 2014, and Dortmund are determined to keep him beyond this season.
Given his age – he only turns 20 next June – and standing as one of Europe's outstanding prospects, they are convinced the bidding will climb to around £50million when they eventually agree to sell.
Meanwhile, Ferguson has warned another teenage prodigy, midfield prospect Paul Pogba, not to let greed ruin a bright future at Manchester United.
The 18-year-old French midfielder, whose move to Old Traffordin 2009 sparked a bitter dispute between United and his old team Le Havre, has yet to agree terms over a new contract amid speculation he might be a target for both Milan clubs or even Manchester City.
Pogba's current deal runs out at the end of the season, although a one-year option means United could keep him until the summer of 2013.
Choice: Pogba has a big decision to make
Choice: Pogba has a big decision to make
Fergusonidentified the player's representatives – who have reportedly enlisted the help of Mario Balotelli'sItalian agent Mino Raiolo – as the problem, but also advised Pogba against letting short-term gain getin the way of a long and lucrative career at United.
'He's got an agent who's obviously become a bit difficult but we're negotiating with this agent and we want the boy to stay,' said Ferguson.
'If he doesn't want to stay, there's not a lot you can do aboutit.
'If he'd like to be a Manchester United player then he knows what to do. You hope he gets the right advice butit's also down to theindividual.
'Matt Busby summedit up perfectly; you don't need to chase money at a club like Manchester United,it will eventually find you.If you're good enough, you will earn money and become rich playing for United, there's no doubt aboutit.
'It's one of these situations that they can chase the money earlyin their career but at the endit's not the same asif they'd stayed here.
'It's the decision the player has to take himself about where they think their best future will be. He just needs to look round about him to realise that.'
Out in the open: Fletcher
Outin the open: Fletcher
Ferguson addressed the Pogbaissue yesterday after raising the possibility of giving theyoungster, who has been likened to ayoung Patrick Vieira, his Premier League debut following three Carling Cup appearances this season.
United's optionsin central midfield had already been limited byinjuries to Tom Cleverley and Anderson before they announced this week that Darren Fletcher was taking a break from football to combat a serious bowel condition that has put a question mark over his futurein the game.
Ferguson admitted that Fletcher's biggest decision was going public with anillness United had previously attributed to a virus.
'It's easier for Darren now becauseit's outin the open,' said Ferguson.
'The confidentiality was to protect him butit got to a position, particularlyin Scotland, where they were delvingintowhy we kept talking about a virus.
'I think Darren was feeling a bit uncomfortable aboutit, so he decided to makeit public.
'He's beenin hospital for a few days and he will just get rest now. Hopefully he will make a full recovery butI couldn't put any timescale onit.'

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