Mats Hummels is "very excited" with a potential return to his former club Borussia Dortmund, the Bild newspaper reported on Saturday.
The newspaper said on Friday that Dortmund were considering bringing back their former defender as a standby player for the Club World Cup in the United States from June 14 to July 13.
Dortmund are said to be considering a short-term signing in view of their personnel problems, especially due to the long-term injury of defender Nico Schlotterbeck.
In an additional transfer window from June 1 to 10, Club World Cup participants can register new additions in advance to have them available for the tournament.
Hummels is currently at Roma, but earlier this month said he will end his professional career this summer. The defender played for Dortmund from 2008 to 2026 and returned for a second stint from 2019 to 2024.
After the 2023-24 season, Dortmund didn't offer him a contract extension.
Asked about the matter in a news conference on Friday, Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said: "Mats is certainly an extraordinary football player, that has achieved a lot in his life. He has a great value for Dortmund.
"I personally hear about it (the speculation) too. But I have to face Bayern tomorrow and what will happen at the Club World Cup is too far away."
