Manchester United have improved their offer for Henrikh Mkhitaryan and the 27-year-old could now be set to move to Old Trafford, Borussia Dortmund’s CEO has confirmed.
The 27-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from the Signal Iduna Park in recent weeks and reports over the weekend that a deal was imminent.
Sky Sports reported on Monday that Manchester United had finally agreed a £26.3 million deal for the Armenia international and it appears a transfer is now on the verge of being announced.
Hans-Joachim Watzke has confirmed that Manchester United have upped their initial offers, which has finally convinced Dortmund to offload the former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder.
German outlet Suddeutsche Zeitung today that Mkhitaryan had cancelled his rental agreement in Germany in April, meaning that he was always planning on a move away from the club this summer.
The aforementioned source also reveals that Manchester United initially bid €40 million for Mkhitaryan, but Dortmund set a price of €42 million which the Red Devils have now met – Watzke has since gone on to confirm that.
“The situation is now different,” Watzke told Bild. “Manchester have made a much improved offer. In situations like this there are always a lot of different things to consider and in the end at one point we have to make a decision.
“And as we are back in training on Monday we will decide at the weekend. I have contacted the relevant people and we will weigh things up at the weekend. And then the board will make the decision, definitely at the weekend.”
That sum will set a new Dortmund record for money received from a sale and highlight the sort of faith Manchester United have in Mkhitaryan.
SZ also report that Dortmund want to discuss the sale of Mkhitaryan at the next board meeting first, which does not usually happen, due to disagreements over potential replacements.
Dortmund’s Michael Zorc is keen on Karim Bellarabi replacing Mkhitaryan, whilst Thomas Tuchel wants Andre Schurrle from Wolfsburg.
Mkhitaryan, who was signed by current Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp whilst the German tactician was in charge at Dortmund, has long been linked with a move to England.
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