Borussia Dortmund have rejected Manchester United’s £19m bid for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, according to the Daily Mirror.
The report suggests Borussia Dortmund are refusing to let another key player leave the club this summer and are prepared to lose the Armenian international on a free transfer when his current contract expires next year.
The German runners-up have already lost Ilkay Gundogan and Mats Hummels this summer.
Jose Mourinho is believed to be a fan of the right winger and Mkhitaryan’s agent, Mino Raiola, has fueled the speculation about his client’s future by admitting the winger wants to move to Manchester United.
“Man Utd is a unique opportunity,” Raiola said. “Micky wants to go there.”
Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has confirmed Mkhitaryan’s refusal to renew his contract with the club, but has also insisted that the Armenian will not be allowed to leave this summer.
“We’ve been negotiating [a new deal] with Henrikh Mkhitaryan for four months,” Watzke told BILD. “We now know he won’t sign an extension. There was never a promise that he could leave us early.”
Mkhitaryan enjoyed a magnificent season at Dortmund, so the Bundesliga club’s refusal to let him go is perfectly understandable. Even though his contract is due to expire next year, Dortmund can’t afford to lose yet another key player this summer.
Manchester United need to sign a quality right winger in this transfer window, but it appears as though Jose Mourinho won’t be able to sign his preferred target and will have to look elsewhere.