Arsenal closing on deal for Borussia Dortmund’s midfielder

Arsenal appears progressively more to sign Borussia Dortmund’s playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Armenian midfielder in the coming weeks despite interest from across the continent, as per Kicker.

The Armenian international has forced BVB’s hand after turning down improved terms at the Westfalenstadion following the Dortmund’s refusal to install a release clause into his contract.

The 27-year-old has one year remaining on his existing deal with Dortmund, prompting Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, into considering a £25m offer to lure him to north London. 

According to reports from the Sun, the Frenchman has selected adding midfield cover to his squad this summer as he looks to fix the damage done from a disappointing season in the Premier League.

Sevilla and Liverpool are among the clubs considered to also harbor an interest in the Armenian midfielder.

Aware that erstwhile frugality in the transfer market has caused upset among the Emirates crowd, the north Londoners have moved quickly this time around and hope to secure Mesut Özil, Héctor Bellerín and Alexis Sánchez on new terms following the £30m acquisition of Granit Xhaka from Borussia Mönchengladbach. 

The Frenchman also remains optimistic of signing record-breaking striker Jamie Vardy, 9, from Leicester City after they met his £20m release clause last week.

Vardy, the 29-year-old England international propelled the Foxes to an unlikely title triumph last season with 24-goals while also breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record by scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League matches.

Vardy is considering his options while he is still on international duty with England at the European Championship and has made the north Londoners aware that he is unlikely to reply to their three-year £120,000-a-week offer until after the tournament.