Arsenal & Chelsea Handed Boost In Pursuit Of 23-Goal Attacker

The opening of the summer transfer window is fast approaching so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, news on the future of Henrikh Mkhitaryan….

Arsenal and Chelsea have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Henrikh Mkhitaryan after his contract extension talks with Borussia Dortmund stalled, according to the Mirror.

Mkhitaryan made his name during a three-year spell at Shakhtar Donestk before earning a move to Dortmund in 2013 where he’s continued to forge a reputation as one of the most dangerous attackers in European football.

The Armenian international has chipped in with an incredible 23 goals and 30 assists in all competitions this season alone to help Dortmund reach the German cup final and qualify for the Champions League next season having finished behind champions Bayern Munich.

Understandably, the 27-year-old has been attracting interest from the Premier League with the Mirror claiming that Arsenal and Chelsea are among the clubs showing a keen interest in signing the attacker this summer.

Arsene Wenger is under pressure to strengthen his squad after the Gunners blew their best chance of winning the title in over a decade and Mkhitaryan could be being lined-up as a potential replacement for Theo Walcott – who’s being tipped to leave the Emirates after a poor season.

New Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is expected to overhaul the Blues squad after a disastrous campaign and Mkhitaryan appears to be one of a number of high-profile players being targetted by the deposed Premier League champions this summer.

The London duo have now been handed a timely boost in their pursuit of Mkhitaryan as the Mirror claim that contract extension talks with Dortmund have reached an impasse.

The newspaper suggests that the attacker is demanding a buyout clause to be included in his new deal but the Bundesliga outfit are refusing to agree to this request as they’re determined not to lose another key player in this manner.

Dortmund were forced to lose Mario Gotze to Bayern Munich after they triggered his buyout clause three years ago and the club have since refused to include such clauses in new deals. They successfully renegotiated Marco Reus’s contract to remove his buyout clause last year while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also signed a new contract without any buyout clause included.

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Mkhitaryan’s current deal expires in 2017 so this summer is going to be pivotal in his future. If no extension is agreed with Dortmund then the German club may be forced to cash-in this summer while they can still command a transfer fee or they’ll risk losing him for nothing in 12 months time.

It looks as though Arsenal and Chelsea are waiting to pounce if contract talks continue to stall and I think Mkhitaryan would be a superb addition for either club, so let’s hope we see him plying his trade in the Premier League next season.