Borussia Dortmund's Hummels hints at exit

After shrugging off rumours about moving abroad, Mats Hummels appears to have reconsidered his future and is open to the possibility of leaving the Bundesliga.

The centre back has gone through a frustrating league campaign with Borussia Dortmund after the club's monumental struggles to begin the season.

Despite the team's efforts to turn its season around and increase the gap between itself and the drop-zone, Hummels admitted he's thought about leaving the German league in order to advance his career.

"Some days I think I would definitely like to move abroad but then, other days, I think I don't fancy it at all," Hummels told Kicker magazine when asked about Manchester United's interest in his services.

"Basically, I think moving abroad would be good for my professional and personal well-being. Eventually, I'd like to leave the Bundesliga.

"I have had many conversations with the leaders of Dortmund, where I know I am a big part of the team, but I am yet to make a decision about my future."

United have been heavily connected with Hummels since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but the German international has been forced to deny any connections with the Premier League team.

For Hummels, he's now trying to be transparent about his future plans as he admits there's always uncertainty during the transfer window and would like to avoid upsetting fans by taking a firm stance.

"I'm being open about this because I'm not a fan of those who claim they are staying but, behind the scenes, have actually secretly agreed a transfer away from their current club," he said.

"I will do what is best for my career and what I would like to do. Everyone knows how much I love it at Dortmund but I also want to make sure I'm part of a strong team with powerful players."

- With translation from the Daily Mail