Mkhitaryan will stay at Dortmund next season, says Watzke

By foxsports
Published

Manchester United transfer target Henrikh Mkhitaryan will not be allowed to leave Borussia Dortmund until his contract runs out.

The Bundesliga club's chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke says the 27-year-old, who is said to be keen on linking up with Jose Mourinho's side, must see out his current deal at the Westfalenstadion.

Mkhitaryan, who has another year left on his contract and has rejected the offer of a new deal, is also attracting attention from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.

Speaking to ESPN Watzke said: "We have 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."

Watzke's comments came after Mino Raiola, Mkhitaryan's agent, told German newspaper Bild that the club had promised the Armenia international he would be allowed a move in the summer. 

Mkhitaryan, who joined Dortmund from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2013, scored 24 goals in all competitions last season.