Mkhitaryan urges Arsenal to sanction his sale to Roma

Armenian playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan has reportedly told Arsenal that he would prefer to leave the Gunners on a permanent basis when the transfer window reopens during the summer. The 31-year-old is currently on a season-long loan with AS Roma where he has caught the eye with six goals and four assists from 17 appearances this term.


He has missed around 16 games through injuries during this period but has still impressed manager Paulo Fonseca, who is keen on working with him next season. According to Corriere dello Sport, Mkhitaryan has told the Gunners board that his time in London is over and he would prefer to continue his career in the Serie A.

The north London side have set an asking price of around £22m for Mkhitaryan but it appears that the Giallorossi are unlikely to meet the figure as they are likely to miss out on Champions League football while the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has contributed to financial losses. The Serie A outfit have yet to make any formal bid for the player’s services but a recent report from The Mirror has claimed that they may not offer anything more than £10m for the playmaker.

While the package does not seem lucrative, the Gunners board may still consider the possibility of offloading Mkhitaryan, given they could get his £180,000-a-week salary off their wage bill. Aside from the Armenian, Mohamed Elneny is another player, who has been touted to seal a permanent move away from Arsenal.
The Egypt international is currently on a season-long loan with Besiktas, who he has been a consistent performer in the centre of the park. The Istanbul outfit are keen on another loan stint for the midfielder but the Gunners want the permanent departure of the former Basel man as they seek to recoup funds for summer purchases.