Manchester United Transfer News: Henrikh Mkhitaryan Bid Rejected, Latest Rumours

Manchester United have reportedly had a £19 million bid for midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan rejected by Borussia Dortmund as the German club are unwilling to let him leave.

Per the Sun's Anthony Chapman, Mkhitaryan has only a year remaining on his deal with Dortmund and is eager to move to Old Trafford to link up with manager Jose Mourinho, but BVB want him to see out his contract.

As a result, Chapman added, Dortmund have rejected United's £19 million bid for the 27-year-old and are likely loath to let another one of their top stars leave this summer following the departures of Mats Hummels and Ilkay Gundogan.

Indeed, BVB chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke recently confirmed that, despite Mkhitaryan refusing to sign a new contract beyond 2017, he would not be leaving the club this summer, per Bild (via ESPN's Stephan Uersfeld): 

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We've been negotiating a new deal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan for four months. We now know he won't sign an extension. There was never a promise that he can leave us prematurely. 

We have intensely discussed the question of an early transfer in all club bodies and came to the conclusion that Mkhitaryan will stay in Dortmund next season.

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Mkhitaryan's agent, Mino Raiola, previously claimed Dortmund had promised he could depart this summer and cited United as a likely destination, per Bild (via Uersfeld):

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Those in charge at BVB promised Micki months ago that he can leave the club in the summer. Dortmund have an official offer, but the BVB bosses now fear their fans. All of a sudden they say that he has to leave on a free next summer. That's very bad management.

Manchester United are a unique opportunity. Micki wants to join them now by any means.

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It is a frustrating situation for United, given that Mkhitaryan is clearly open to a move to Old Trafford and would be a relatively cheap signing for a player of his quality.

Per Uersfeld, the Armenia international netted 23 times in all competitions for Dortmund last term and provided a staggering 32 assists.

A player as creative and effective as Mkhitaryan would be the perfect addition to United's attacking unit, given their recent woes in front of goal. They netted only 49 times in the 2015-16 Premier League campaign, prompting Bleacher Report's Dean Jones to urge a top striker be signed this summer:

Mkhitaryan is also immensely versatile, able to play through the middle or on either flank, meaning he could likely slot easily into the United setup as Mourinho looks to turn them into a title-winning force once again.

However, it seems almost certain that Dortmund will not be swayed this summer. One of the key reasons being to rub salt in the wound for United, reminding them that they have already lost Gundogan to Manchester City, per the Manchester Evening News' James Robson:

Perhaps had City not snapped up the German so early in the summer, Dortmund would be prepared to negotiate over Mkhitaryan, but it seems clear now that Mourinho will need to look elsewhere for the necessary additions he craves.