Henrikh Mkhitaryan Exit Should Alert Major Clubs Despite Dortmund Disappointment

Borussia Dortmund's awful 2014-15 season restarted after the winter break in the worst possible way, after a draw at Bayer Leverkusen left them bottom of the Bundesliga.

Ahead of their game with Augsburg on Wednesday, BVB received more bad news, with agent Mino Raiola claiming his player Henrikh Mkhitaryan would look to leave the Westfalenstadion in the summer, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Armenian international Mkhitaryan hasn't exactly lived up to his billing as one of the best attacking midfielders around during his spell at Dortmund, but some of Europe's top sides will no doubt still be keen to give him another shot—and they'd likely be wise to do so.

Dortmund Days

Sascha Schuermann/Associated Press

Mkhitaryan arrived for more than £21 million in the summer of 2014 and, after a tough initial run, emerged as a key player as Dortmund ended the season strongly last season. He scored nine league goals in 31 games, 13 in all competitions, but he hasn't continued that ability to find the net into this term.

The side as a whole are hugely underperforming, so Mkhitaryan's fall-off in form isn't singularly shambolic and entirely down to himself—but not a single goal scored this season in the Bundesliga or Champions League tells its own story.

"

Mkhitaryan has BuLi's worst conversion rate (0 goals from 35 shots). BVB spent a record fee on him yet he's failed them again & again. 1/2

— Clark Whitney (@Mr_Bundesliga) February 4, 2015"

"

2/2 It's understandable if anyone wants to jump ship. But the timing is horrendous w/ Mkhi failing. Raiola should keep quiet until summer

— Clark Whitney (@Mr_Bundesliga) February 4, 2015"

The Dortmund No. 10 has tallied less than 1,000 minutes of league action this term, per WhoScored.com, and he was only on the bench as the second half of the campaign kicked off at the weekend.

Mino's Chatter

Mino Raiola isn't exactly known for downplaying the importance or ability of his own players—as an agent, that's of course his job—but even so, you would be hard-pushed to find one of the "top 10" teams around looking to sign him.

"

Henrikh Mkhitaryan's agent Mino Raiola is quoted by Bild today saying the player wants to leave Dortmund in the summer.

— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) February 4, 2015"

"

Raiola on Mkhitaryan "He would certainly do well with Juve. Henrikh should play in one of the 10 top international teams. " #JuveBews [Bild]

— Juvefc.com (@juvefcdotcom) February 4, 2015"

Bayern Munich are stocked for attacking midfielders, Barcelona can't sign anybody and Real Madrid have some of the best younger No. 10s around. Chelsea have just signed Juan Cuadrado, Manchester City have at least two who are on par with Mkhitaryan when all are on top form, and Manchester United made a massive outlay on Angel Di Maria in summer. Who else? PSG? They don't typically operate with a No. 10, though Mkhitaryan could play wider there.

Juventus are doubtless looking for an attacking midfielder, though whether they could be called a top-10 side at this point is a stretch, given their lack of impact in Europe of late.

Massimo Pinca/Associated Press

It would seem a next-level-down team would be Mkhitaryan's best bet: a Champions League side who are aiming for domestic improvement—grouping the likes of Juve, Roma, Liverpool, Valencia or similar teams together.

Next Move: Make or Break

Even though he hasn't hit the heights he's capable of at Dortmund, there will be no shortage of takers for Mkhitaryan if the price asked for isn't excessive. The mitigating circumstances of the team's collapse will be factored in by interested parties, as well as his scoring record with Shakhtar Donetsk and last term with his current club.

Presuming the unthinkable doesn't happen and Dortmund get relegated, it wouldn't be surprising to see them ask for much of the £20-odd million back, so that limits the number of potential signing clubs.

At 26 years of age, Mkhitaryan should be hitting his peak effectiveness over the next three or four seasons and needs to make sure that any move in summer is to a team where he can progress in that manner. Whether down to himself or the team's decline, his time at Dortmund hasn't been anywhere near the success that would have been expected of him.

If he's to prove he is one of the game's most effective attacking midfielders, scoring and creating as everybody knows he is capable of doing, the move in the summer has to be one where Mkhitaryan focuses fully on his own game and the team collective, in an environment which will allow his strengths to flourish.

Follow @karlmatchett