Mkhitaryan to Arsenal: Manchester United enter race alongside Gunners to sign Borussia Dortmund star

Jose Mourinho has begun his transfer activity in earnest following the arrival of Eric Bailly from Villarreal with Manchester United now having entered the race for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan alongside Arsenal. The Red Devils are set for a squad overhaul following the arrival of the Portuguese manager and he has identified the Armenian as a potential target this summer.

The Daily Mail reports that the 20-time English champions have made enquiries with regards to the player's availability following interest from the Gunners and Serie A champions Juventus. The Bundesliga side have failed to convince Mkhitaryan to sign an extension to his contract, which ends in 2017 and are now willing to sell him rather than lose him on a free transfer next summer.

Dortmund are demanding a fee of around £25m ($36m) for the midfielder, who had a prolific season – scoring 23 goals and providing a mammoth 32 assists in 52 games in all competitions – and the north London side were said to be leading the race for his signature. United's spending power could out-muscle the competition, but Arsenal and Juventus have the added advantage of Champions League football which the Old Trafford club cannot offer this season.

The Armenia international's affairs are handled by Mino Raiola, who also manages Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku, and all three are expected to switch clubs this summer. Mkhitaryan's representative has already made it clear that they are looking at options after rejecting a new deal and Dortmund are resigned to losing yet another key player following the exits of Mats Hummels and Ilkay Gundogan to Bayern Munich and Manchester City respectively.

Apart from the trio, Chelsea, who will be managed by Antonio Conte next season, have also registered an interest in the player, but again are handicapped by the lack of Champions League football following a disappointing season that saw them finish the Premier League season in 10<sup>th place.