Arsenal blow as £20m playmaker’s agent talks up Man United move

Arsenal have been dealt a blow after Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s agent confirmed the midfielder wants to join Manchester United this summer.

The Borussia Dortmund midfielder has been linked with a move to England in recent months amid initial interest from deposed Premier League champions Chelsea.

However, Arsenal emerged as front-runners to sign the Armenia international over the past week or so despite Arsene Wenger already signing Granit Xhaka in a £33m deal from Borussia Monchengladbach.

But the Gunners could miss out on the talented 27-year-old playmaker after his agent Mino Raiola revealed that Mkhitaryan is holding out for a move to their bitter rivals United this summer.

“Man United is a unique opportunity, Micki wants to go there,” Raiola told Bild.

Earlier, Dortmund chief executive Hanz-Joachim Watzke confirmed that Mkhitaryan has turned down the chance to extend his contract amid interest from the Premier League.

“We have dealt with Mkhitaryan for four months. We now know that not be renewed,” Watzke told BILD.

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Mkhitaryan scored 11 times and made 15 assists in 31 Bundesliga appearances for the German side last term to attract interest from a host of Europe’s top clubs ahead of the opening of the summer transfer window.