Arsenal are the only club to have made a bid for £20 million-rated Borussia Dortmund star Henrikh Mkhitaryan, according to Squawka.
The Gunners have targeted Mkhitaryan as they look to take advantage of the fact the playmaker only has one year remaining on his Dortmund contract and is refusing to accept a new deal.
Mkhitaryan would prefer a summer transfer to Manchester United while Chelsea are also interested in the Armenian, who finished last season with a remarkable record of 23 goals and 32 assists in all competitions.
But Arsenal have made the biggest push for Mkhitaryan and sources close to the player have confirmed that the north Londoners are the only side to have submitted a formal offer.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants to complete his transfer business early this summer with £30m midfielder Granit Xhaka already signed from Borussia Monchengladbach while the club are waiting for Jamie Vardy to decide on a £20m transfer from Leicester.
Wenger faces disappointment on Mkhitaryan, though, with competition from Premier League rivals and Dortmund adamant that the 27-year-old will not be sold this summer, even if it means losing him for nothing when his contract expires next year.
The Bundesliga club have already sold midfielder Ilkay Gundogan to Manchester City and centre-back Mats Hummels to Bayern Munich this summer, while forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is being courted by several leading European clubs including City and Real Madrid.
Dortmund have reportedly offered Mkhitaryan a deal worth £100,000 a week but the player’s agent, Mino Raiola, has spoken of his desire to move to Manchester United and work under Jose Mourinho.
“Manchester United is a unique opportunity. Micki want to go there. Micki has for months maintained that he may leave the club this summer,” Raiola said.
“Dortmund presented an official offer which was rejected, but now the BVB bosses fear their own fans.
“Suddenly, they tell Micki, that he should go next season on a free transfer. This is very bad management.”
Dortmund are determined not to see the complete break-up of their squad and have told Mkhitaryan to stay for another campaign.
COMMENTS