Louis van Gaal has been given the green light to pursue Mats Hummels after Borussia Dortmund admitted the Manchester United manager’s prime defensive target is for sale in the close season.

Van Gaal is a long-term admirer of the Germany centre-back and considered making a formal bid for Hummels last summer and in the winter window.

With the 26-year-old stating this week he will consider his future at the end of the season, Hans-Joachim Watzke, the Dortmund chief executive, said: “In this moment this a total dummy discussion, because there is no offer. If one arrives, we will discuss it internally and make a decision. But this decision will only be taken by BVB.

“The situation at Dortmund is like this: We’ve lost one major player each year but we don’t stop playing football. To be clear: Mats knows his contractual situation, he described it in that interview himself. The decision where Mats will play next season will only be taken by BVB.”

While Hummels will have two years remaining on his contract this summer, he admitted last week he will consider his options in the summer. “I think moving abroad will be good for my professional and personal well-being,” he said. “Eventually, I’d like to leave the Bundesliga. 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. 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.”

As reported by the Guardian last summer Hummels holds Van Gaal in great regard and his father, Hermann, has first-hand experience of the Dutchman’s abilities having been a youth team coach at Bayern Munich when he took-over the Bundesliga club in 2009.

Van Gaal likes his central defenders to be able to play out confidently out from the back to initiate attacks so the classy Hummels, a World Cup winner with Germany at Brazil 2014, fits this ideal.