Manchester United are reportedly set to pay €42.5m for Borussia Dortmund playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan, with a deal likely next week.
The Premier League outfit’s pursuit of the Armenian international has been well documented in recent weeks, with Jose Mourinho evidently keen on adding him to his squad at Old Trafford.
According to Bild, and various other sources in Germany, United will have to pay double their initial €24m bid, with an offer of €42.5m said to have finally struck an agreement between the two clubs.
If true, that would be the biggest transfer fee ever paid for a player entering the final year of his contract in Europe.
It is added that Dortmund are ready to accept the offer and that the deal will be completed in the coming days with a view of Mkhitaryan being unveiled as a United player possibly next week.
Minor details in the contract between the player and club are said to be holding up the transfer, but it will certainly be a welcome move for all concerned.
From Dortmund’s perspective, the influential playmaker had just a year remaining on his contract and was unlikely to sign an extension which in turn left the German giants at risk of losing him for nothing.
The player’s agent, Mino Raiola, has insisted that United would be a dream move for his client, and Mourinho certainly needed a creative spark in his team ahead of his first campaign in charge.
Eric Bailly has already arrived at Old Trafford this summer, and Mourinho is expected to make more signings before the start of the season to bolster his squad further.
Mkhitaryan enjoyed another successful season last year, scoring 23 goals and providing a staggering 32 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions, but will now welcome the opportunity to take his talents to the Premier League.