If one thing sums up the brilliance of a young Mats Hummels during his first spell at Borussia Dortmund it’s this. The 2014 World Cup winner was so good in possession opposition managers would sometimes instruct their strikers to man-mark the ball-playing centre-half.
The glue that held together a thrilling, fresh-faced team that stormed to the Bundesliga title twice in Jurgen Klopp’s heyday, Hummels was not only a world-leading footballer, he was also the archetypal modern-day defender.
His supreme footballing prowess helped to change what it means to be a centre-back.
At the age of 25, the Germany international already had two league titles, a World Cup winner’s medal and a Champions League final under his belt.
And while Pawel Dawidowicz can’t match the former Bayern Munich powerhouse in the silverware department, the Hellas Verona ace isn’t known as ‘Polish Hummels’ for nothing.
This nickname alone may explain why Celtic have taken such a keen interest.
Eight months ago, the Glasgow Evening Times reported Celtic wanted the £1.4 million-rated Dawidowicz as a replacement for Jozo Simunovic.
TuttoHellasVerona, meanwhile, suggests the Glasgow giants will renew their interest in the summer.
Celtic supporters won’t need reminding how poor their defence has been this season.
The Hoops look like conceding from every set-piece they face and, to make matters worse, Kristoffer Ajer is expected to follow Hatem Abd Elhamed out the door sooner rather than later.
Brighton and Hove Albion loanee Shane Duffy will depart too – although the error-prone Irishman may not be missed so keenly.
Clearly, then, defensive replacements are a must and the ‘Polish Hummels’ feels tailor-made for Celtic.
At 6ft 2in and with an average of almost three clearances per 90 minutes, the physical Scottish game should pose few problems.
But a Celtic side that dominates possession in almost every game also needs a centre-back capable of starting attacks from the back, piercing the lines with punchy, inch-perfect passes.
Dawidowicz, like Hummels, has made that his trademark.
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