Henrikh Mkhitaryan has emerged as a target for the Reds.
Liverpool are preparing an audacious £22m bid for Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan this summer in an effort to improve their offensive options, reports the Independent.
The Armenian international scored an incredible 25 league goals last season despite operating behind the striker and as a result has been tracked by some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Chelsea, Manchester City and Barcelona have all been associated with the Shakhtar talisman, but it seems that the Reds are confident of bring Mkhitaryan to Anfield despite no chance of European football next campaign.
However, the club have been keen to distance themselves from murmurings that the 24-year-old would be brought to Merseyside as a replacement for want-away forward Luis Suarez.
The Uruguayan’s comments in his native country about wanting to leave Liverpool have fueled speculation that the second highest Premier League goalscorer in 2012/13 will be on his way to Real Madrid.
Yet the Reds have stressed that interest in Mkhitaryan dates back a lot longer than Suarez’s outburst.
The three-time Armenia player of the year was also a key player in Shakhtar’s march on the last-16 of the Champions League this season and scored two goals in Europe’s top club competition.
Mkhitaryan signed for his current side from Metalurg Donetsk in August 2010 for a fee of £5.1m, yet Liverpool are likely to have to pay more than four times that to tempt the Ukrainian champions into selling.
If the attacking midfielder does join Brendan Rodgers’ side it will mark the second deal of the summer for the Merseyside club after landing Kolo Toure on a free transfer from Manchester City.
COMMENTS