The highly sought after Dortmund midfielder is reportedly eyeing a move to Manchester United this summer despite interest from Premier League rivals Arsenal.
Arsenal have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Dortmund attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, with the wantaway Armenian reportedly favouring a move to Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United.
Mkhitaryan’s agent Mino Raiola is quoted by German media outlet Sport1 (via HITC Sport) as saying: “Man United is a unique opportunity. Micki wants to go there.” The news will come as music to Mourinho’s ears, with the Portuguese set to rebuild a Manchester United squad lacking in experience and quality in most areas of the pitch.
Another factor that is working in the favour of Manchester United is the fact that Mino Raiola, the agent of Mkhitaryan, is also the agent of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. With the reportedly agreeing a move to the Red Devils, Man United and Ed Woodward should feel confident to close yet another deal with the superagent. The Armenian international was first linked with a move to Arsenal, with the Sun claiming that the Gunners were close to sealing a £25million deal with Dortmund.
Mkhitaryan’s resourcefulness will prove to be a boost for Man United
It is not hard to imagine why England’s leading clubs are so interested in the Armenian, and his stats show the impact he has had on the Dortmund midfield this past season. Mkhitaryan amassed an impressive 18 goals and 20 assists for the German club in 2015-16, leading them to a second-placed finish in the Bundesliga.
Having played almost all across the midfield and the forward line, Mkhitaryan and his versatility can be very wisely used by Manchester United to cover for their possible shortcomings in the next season. A midfielder who likes to dribble and cut inside from either flank, his passion vision and sharp passing will prove a massive boost for players like Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, who thrive on link-up play.
