The Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder has offers on the table from both clubs and will make his final decision on where to move in the coming days, with the German club the favourites
 Borussia Dortmund are confident of beating Liverpool to the signature of Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Goal understands. The Champions League runners-up have made a concerted push for the Armenia international and have joined the Merseysiders in activating his £19 million release clause. Both clubs have made contract offers to Mkhitaryan, whose move is being brokered by super agent Mino Raiola. It is believed that the 24-year-old is now edging towards choosing Dortmund ahead of Liverpool, with his final destination expected to be confirmed in the next few days. Tottenham have also registered their interest in the versatile midfielder but are regarded as outsiders in the three-way fight for the player's signature. Liverpool had lined up Mkhitaryan as a priority signing even before Luis Suarez began pushing for a summer move, with the three-time Armenia player of the year regarded as the most eye-catching target in a summer rebuilding programme that has already included the signings of goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, defender Kolo Toure, attacking midfielder Luis Alberto and forward Iago Aspas. But the deal has been a complicated one to complete for the Merseysiders because of legal issues concerning Mkhitaryan’s ownership and the timing of his transfer fee payments, with Shakhtar keen for a single lump sum up front. Mkhitaryan has failed to attend training in recent days, with Shakhtar chief executive Sergei Palkinadmitting he does not know his star man's whereabouts. Dortmund have money to spend after selling Mario Gotze to Bayern Munich for £31.5m and Palkin has admitted the German club have bid for his team's prize asset. Jurgen Klopp's side are also on the verge of signing St Etienne striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with sporting director Michael Zorc admitting on Tuesday that they are "very close" to finalising a deal. Robert Lewandowski has been told he will not be allowed to leave for Bayern this summer, and BVB remain keen to strengthen a side that finished 25 points behind the Bavarians last season. Mkhitaryan scored a Ukranian Premier League record 25 goals last season despite operating from an attacking midfield berth, while Aubameyang netted 19 times in Ligue 1. |
