Premier League target Mkhitaryan won't leave Dortmund, says club chief
Borussia Dormund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke says he's keeping Henrik Mkhitaryan at the club until the end of his contract, rather than succumb to interest from Manchester United and Arsenal.
The Armenian international's deal winds up at the end of the 2016-17 campaign, but Der BVB isn't going to cut its losses and cash in on him now.
"We've been negotiating a new deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan for four months," Watzke told Bild, with translation from ESPN FC. "We now know he won't sign an extension. There was never a promise that he can leave us prematurely."
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The 27-year-old has expressed a desire to ply his trade in the Premier League, and with Mino Raiola as his agent - the Dutch-Italian broker deals for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, and others - this isn't necessarily the end of the transfer tale.
"Those in charge at BVB promised Micki months ago that he can leave the club in the summer," Raiola claimed via ESPN FC. "Dortmund have an official offer, but the BVB bosses now fear their fans. All of a sudden they say that he has to leave on a free next summer. That's very bad management."
There is apparently an offer of €24 million tabled by Manchester United for the versatile midfielder, and Mkhitaryan is said to be most interested in linking up with Jose Mourinho in Stretford.
"Manchester United are a unique opportunity," Raiola said. "Micki wants to join them now by any means."
But after a summer that has already seen Mats Hummels and Ilkay Gundogan leave, and also sees Manchester City apparently eyeing striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Watzke is keen to keep hold of Mkhitaryan.
"We have intensely discussed the question of an early transfer in all club bodies and came to the conclusion that Mkhitaryan will stay in Dortmund next season," Watzke said.
Mkhitaryan hit some of his best form last season, scoring 11 goals and laying on 15 assists in 31 Bundesliga appearances.