Borussia Dortmund have categorically stated that midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not be allowed to leave the club in the summer.
The player only has 12 months left on his contract and could start negotiating terms with foreign clubs from January. After having lost numerous top players on free transfers in the last few years, Dortmund are fearing at the possibility of once again letting one of their top players go for nothing. Only recently, striker Robert Lewandowski, who is valued in excess of £ 40 million, joined Bayern Munich on a free transfer after allowing his contract to expire.
Dortmund, though, say that they will not be held to ransom by any club and will not discuss transfer terms for HenrikhMkhitaryan. The player is reportedly attracting attention from Manchester United, whose new manager José Mourinho has made him a priority in the midfield. The 27-year-old has been one of the fine players for Dortmund since joining the club a few years ago. He was initially signed as a replacement for Kagawa, who has since returned to the Dortmund after his spell with Manchester United. United are expected to be one of the active clubs in the transfer window, as they prepare to back new manager Mourinho in the best possible way.
“We have been negotiating a new deal with HenrikhMkhitaryan for four months.We now know he won’t sign an extension. There was never a promise that he can leave us prematurely. 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,” said chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke. After bringing in a number of young players like Anthony Martial, the focus at United seems to be once again back on experienced players.