Borussia reject Manchester United's $27 mln bid for Mkhitaryan

PanARMENIAN.Net - Manchester United have failed with a £19million (about $27 million) move for Borussia Dortmund’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan, The Mirror says.

And Dortmund insist they won’t sell the wantaway midfielder after already losing two big stars this summer.

Mkhitaryan has emerged as a target for United, Arsenal, Juventus and Chelsea after scoring 23 goals and racking up 32 assists for Dortmund last season.

The 27 year-old has just one year left on his deal and wants to move to Old Trafford according to his agent.

But Dortmund are digging their heels in despite Mkhitaryan refusing to sign a contract extension.

United tried to take advantage by making a cut-price offer in the region of £19m, but the bid, believed to be a heavily installment-based offer, was knocked back.

And the Bundesliga club are instead ready to let Mkhitaryan run his deal down having decided they need the player more than any money they would get for selling him this summer.

Dortmund have already seen midfielder Ilkay Gundogan quit to join Manchester City and defender Mats Hummels join rivals Bayern Munich this summer.

And they are determined not to let any more big players go even though Mkhitaryan won’t sign a new deal.

Dortmund chief executive Hanz-Joachim Watzke said: “We have been negotiating with Henrikh Mkhitaryan for four months for him to extend his contract with us.

“Now we know that it is not extended, it was never our commitment that Mkhitaryan may 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.”

Dortmund’s stance has put them on collision course with Mkhitaryan’s agent Mino Raiola, who also represents two other United targets Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba.

Raiola said: “Manchester United is a unique opportunity. Micki want to go there. Micki has for months maintained that he may leave the club this summer.

“Dortmund presented an official offer which was rejected, but now the BVB bosses fear their own fans.

“Suddenly, they tell Micki, that he should go next season on a free transfer. This is very bad management.”