Liverpool Transfer News: Henrikh Mkhitaryan Bid Expected, Latest Rumours

Liverpool haven't finished their business in the 2015 summer transfer window if the latest rumours are to be believed, as Fichajes.net (h/t Metro) reports the Reds are set to make a £14.5 million opening bid for Borussia Dortmund midfield Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The Armenia international is enjoying a phenomenal start to the 2015-16 season after struggling earlier in his Dortmund career, and many pundits believe the 26-year-old is on the verge of a breakout season.

Mkhitaryan showed some promise in his first season at the Signal Iduna Park, scoring nine goals and adding 10 assists in the Bundesliga, but his numbers took a huge hit last season, per WhoScored.com. The Armenian looked like a potential flop, but under new manager Thomas Tuchel, he has thrived.

Transfer speculation soon followed, but given his current resurgence, a move seems highly unlikely at this particular time, via Bleacher Report's Clark Whitney:

As we near the end of the summer transfer window, the squad's need for another attacking midfielder has all but disappeared. Philippe Coutinho looks like he could be in for a breakout season himself, and new signing Roberto Firmino is also expected to play a huge role in 2015-16.

It's difficult to see a scenario in which Liverpool would entertain the idea of spending £14.5 million on a player they don't have a real need for, but it's even harder to see Dortmund agreeing to a sale. Juventus director general Beppe Marotta, whose team have also been linked with the midfielder, agrees, as reported by Football Italia: "Henrikh Mkhitaryan? I don't know if Borussia [Dortmund] would sell him.”

A move for Mkhitaryan makes little sense from just about anyone's perspective, whether it's the player himself or either of the clubs involved. Perhaps manager Brendan Rodgers is looking to add some extra depth, but for now, fans should remain sceptical of this rumour.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid winger Denis Cheryshev appears set to join Valencia before the end of the transfer window, with the Reds not offering the Russian a way out of the Bernabeu. According to Cadena COPE (h/t AS), the 24-year-old was hopeful a transfer to Anfield would materialise, but it never did.

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Metro's Louis Sealey previously reported Rodgers was keen on bringing the tricky speedster to Liverpool, but per Cadena COPE, the Reds never made an offer for his services.

Cheryshev spent the 2014-15 season out on loan with Villarreal and impressed during his time with the Yellow Submarine, leading plenty to believe there would be a spot waiting for him in Real Madrid's squad for the upcoming season.

Los Blancos have a wealth of attacking options, however, and playing time would be hard to come by over the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Isco and James Rodriguez, to name a few. A loan move seems like the perfect alternative, although the Spanish giants are reportedly also open to a permanent solution, per Cadena COPE.

Real have shown a willingness to sell talented players before, inserting a buy-back clause in case they fulfil their potential. Alvaro Morata moved to Juventus in such a deal, for example, via the Independent's Adam Digby.

Cheryshev would have made for a solid addition to Rodgers' squad, but similar to Mkhitaryan's situation, one has to wonder where the Russian would have fit in. Talented youngster Jordon Ibe will be given every opportunity to develop this year, and both Coutinho and Firmino figure to star behind the central striker as well.

Investing in young talent is never a bad thing, but Cheryshev is already 24 years old―while he still has plenty of room to grow, his ceiling likely won't be as high as someone like Ibe. The Russian would have been a depth signing, and with chances of regular playing time higher at Valencia, it makes more sense for the player and Real to opt for such a move.

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