Armenian star Henrikh Mkhitaryan could be leaving Borussia Dortmund this summer, with his contract set to expire next summer at the Bundesliga club. His agent, Mino Raiola, had been negotiating a new deal, but a renewal always seemed a bit unlikely. Borussia Dortmund sporting director, Hans-Joachim Watzke, has now confirmed to the German media that both parties have now reached a stalemate, as the player has refused to sign a new contract, despite several attempts by the club to keep him beyond next summer.
“We negotiated with Mkhitaryan for four months. We now know he won’t be renewing,” Watzke told the German media.
Mkhitaryan scored 23 goals and provided 32 assists last season, and several top European clubs are interested in signing him. Manchester United could very well be on that list too, if you believe the words of his agent
”Man United is a unique opportunity. He (Henrikh Mkhitaryan) wants to go there,” Raiola told Bild.
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Borussia Dortmund, however, are now expected to make things a bit difficult for Mkhitaryan now. The Bundesliga giants are not keen on losing another key player this summer, after already sanctioning the transfer of Ilkay Gundogan and Mat Hummels. They’d rather let him go on a free next summer, something they already did with Robert Lewandowski.
Also, it remains to be seen if Manchester United are really keen on signing Mkhitaryan, or the Armenian’s agent is just trying to force Dortmund into selling him. The 27-year-old has been repeatedly linked with a move to Arsenal and Chelsea in the last few months, and interest from Manchester United all of a sudden is a bit surprising.
Manchester United target Vincent Janssen
Meanwhile, the Premier League club have made an enquiry for Dutch international Vincent Janssen, reports Voetbal Primeur. The 21-year-old visited White Hart Lane last week to hold discussions with Tottenham, and it is reported he left with a ‘positive feeling’.
West Ham United are also prepared to spend big on the striker, whilst Manchester United are following the developments closely, as Jose Mourinho sees Janssen as a ‘welcome addition’ to his squad at Old Trafford.
Janssen scored 32 goals last season for AZ Alkmaar, and the Eredivisie side have set an asking price of €15m, which shouldn’t be a problem for any of the Premier League sides.
Tottenham seem to be in the pole position to sign Janssen, and it’d be interesting to see if Manchester United are ready to step up their interest in the player, and snatch him away from their rivals in London.
