Mats Hummels has been one of the most consistent defenders in Europe over the past two seasons, helping Dortmund to win the Bundesliga twice during that period. His form did not go unrecognized, as he was named in the European Sports Media Team of the Year in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Bayern Munich have beaten Dortmund to the title this season and Hummels was ironically a youth product of Bayern, before Dortmund permanently bought him in a €4 million deal in 2009. He has gone on to make 176 appearances in all competitions for the German outfit, scoring a healthy 19 goals in the process.

With his stock rising, he is tipped to leave Dortmund in spite of signing a new deal only last summer, which runs out only in 2017. Barcelona have made public their serious interest in signing a German centre-back, according to SportsMole they might well see him as a long-term replacement for captain Carlos Puyol.

Arsenal are tipped to spend big in order to regain their footing in the upper echelons of domestic football, and manager Wenger knows that his priority should be strengthening the defence in order to wage a sustained title challenge.

Vermaelen has recently lost his place in the side and is reportedly set for a summer exit. Fellow centre-back Per Mertesacker has been inconsistent this season, and Wenger wants to bring in Hummels to shore up his sometimes dodgy defence.

Even Manchester United have been linked with Hummels, but since the German international wants to play regular first-team football, Arsenal seem to have the upper hand in case Dortmund decide to sell.

So the Gunners will most likely have to contend with interest from Barca as their President, Sandro Rosell revealed his admiration for a German player. Reports have suggested that Rosell was indeed talking about Hummels. He said when speaking to a German TV show, “There is a German player I like a lot, but I cannot say his name because it will only drive his price up.”

Any club wanting to acquire Hummels’ services will have to cough up a fee in excess of £20 million to sign the highly-rated centre-half.