Manchester United raise Henrikh Mkhitaryan offer to $38 mln

PanARMENIAN.Net - Manchester United have made an improved offer of £26million (over $38 million) for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the Daily Mail reports.

Dortmund have been resolute in their stance that the 27-year-old Armenia captain is not for sale despite having one year left on his contract.

The Metro reported earlier, however, that the Bundesliga club are willing to sell Mkhitaryan to Manchester for £30.8million (over $45 million).

The Bundesliga club rejected United's proposal of £19.3million ($28.3 million) last week.

However, Mkhitaryan and his agent Mino Raiola are keen to push a move through and want Dortmund to consider the sale.

Dortmund are discussing a move for Wolfsburg's Andre Schurrle as a possible replacement.

Having struggled under Jurgen Klopp, Mkhitaryan has been transformed under Thomas Tuchel at Dortmund.

He notched up 23 goals and 32 assists in all competitions for Dortmund, around four times as many as the previous season.

Unsuited to Klopp's pressing and counter-attacking style, Mkhitaryan has been unchained by Tuchel's more possession-based game, the Daily Mail says.

Speaking to German publication Bild, Raiola said: “We have both taken very different views and fight for them like lions. (Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim) Watzke walks 180 degrees into one direction and I 180 degrees into the other. But even though it does not look like it right now, I still hope for a sensible solution.

Such an offer to join Manchester United might only come once in a lifetime for a player and nobody can guarantee us that the door will still be open for Micki next season. Manchester are Micki's dream club, he wants to join them by any means.”

Asked whether Manchester United will increase their offer for Mkhitaryan, he added: “That's not my task. My task is to represent my player's interests. It's known what Micki wants.”