Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan, according to reports from Russian newspaper Sport Express.
According to their reports, Liverpool will make an official announcement about the transaction within next few days, while the player will fly to Merseyside shortly to conclude his medical and other documentation works.
The 24-year-old has been on Liverpool’s radar throughout the summer but the Reds couldn’t wrap up the deal, due to the player’s ownership problems.
The player had gone AWOL from the Ukrainian club and didn’t report for the pre-season training in a bid to force through a transfer.
Shakhtar chief executive Sergei Palkin admitted that there have been offers in place for the youngster, but he won’t go for cheap. Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund were also interested in him and had lodged a bid in the region of £19.5million.
Palkin said recently as quoted in the Daily Star:
“I do not know where Mkhitaryan is. Only his agent knows this. Borussia sent a proposal for £19.5m.
“I contacted Mkhitaryan’s agent. I wrote to him about the official position of the club. We are prepared to sell Mkhitaryan for £25.5m.
“This offer stands for the next 10 days. If Mkhitaryan wishes to leave, they have to pay this amount for him.”
According to reports from Daily Mail, North London club Tottenham Hotspur have also expressed their interest in the player and are planning to hijack the deal under Liverpool’s nose with a £20million offer.
However, the Russian newspaper reports that an agreement has been reached between Liverpool and Shakhtar, for a reported fee in the region of €30 million (approximately £25.7m).
If the deal goes through, the Armenian international will become the second most expensive signing in Liverpool’s history. While the £35million rated striker Andy Carroll turned out to be a huge flop and was ultimately sold to West Ham in the summer, Liverpool fans can surely expect something special from the midfielder, who scored 25 goals last season for his club.
Several reputed journalists on Twitter have also hinted last night about the possibility of this deal. But, for the time being, let us not give credence to it, rather wait for any official announcements from either of the clubs.
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