5 clubs who could target Henrikh Mkhitaryan this summer
Borussia Dortmund have long been great nurturers and charmers of fabulous footballers, and it seems Henrikh Mkhitaryan is the latest star of theirs to draw interest from plenty of money-laden suitors.
A creative player who likes to score goals as much as he likes to serve chances on plates for his team-mates, the Armenia international is hot property in the world of football right now, and after serving up 18 goals and 20 assists across all competitions he has earned the right to be much sought after. Following a tremendous season with Die Schwarzgelben, the 27-year-old looks set to fly the coop he has called home since 2013 at some point in the next 12 months.
It’s unclear where he’ll wind up, but it really does look like he is headed for the Dortmund exit door to begin the next chapter in his career as his contract is winding down. He’ll either be available at a discount price next year if he keeps rejecting new contracts or an impatient club will stump up the cash this summer.
So, let’s take a look at five clubs who would suit him.
Arsenal
If rumours are to be believed then Arsenal are the frontrunners to secure the Armenia captain’s services.
Arsene Wenger is reportedly keen to bring him on board to complement the apparently impending arrival of Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach, and despite plenty of other teams vying to beat the Gunners to it, it appears as though Wenger has something the rest of these clubs do not; Mkhitaryan’s affections.
As reported by the Sun (h/t the Daily Star), the current Dormund man is something of an Arsenal fan and has expressed his desire to join the north Londoners ahead of anybody else, to his family. It might not be a cut and dry signal, but it does at least give the fans hope that he is seriously considering teaming up with the 2015/16 Premier League runners-up.
Mkhitaryan is precisely the sort of player we are all used to seeing in the red and white of the “Gooners” – he’s lithe, creative, full of energy and he has the sort of lazer vision the manager loves to see being put to expert effect. Imagining him kitted out in their strip is not a difficult thing to do, but whether or not Arsenal will stump up the necessary cash to prise him away is perhaps not so easy.
Dare they wait ‘til 2017 to join the long queue and try and get him for free?