Chelsea transfer news: Antonio Conte prepares summer swoop for Dortmund’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Armenian international could be set for Bridge switch as Italian boss plans revamp amid Hazard and Oscar speculation
ANTONIO CONTE has placed Dortmund’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan at the top of his summer transfer wishlist.
The goal-scoring midfielder, 27, has bagged 18 times for the German side this season and has been the focal point of Thomas Tuchel’s attack-minded philosophy.
Incoming-Italian Conte sees the Armenian as the perfect foil to reinvent and strengthen a Chelsea attack that has failed to shine in a dismal year.
With playmaker’s Eden Hazard and Oscar linked with moves away from the Bridge, Mkhitaryan would prove the ideal replacement, adding pace, goals and trickery to a front-line which has look stagnated and out of ideas this season.
Chelsea won’t have Champions League football next term — or any European involvement for that matter — which could be a major sticking point for Mkhitaryan, who would be guaranteed mixing it with the European elite if he stayed at the Westfalenstadion.
The former Arsenal target sent family members to look at properties in London as the Gunners planned a swoop, with plans to pair him up with Mesut Ozil in midfield.
And Liverpool have also shown interest in the 27-year-old, who Jurgen Klopp signed for £23.5m from Shakhtar Donestsk in 2013.
Dortmund look set to lose a number of stars this summer, with Mats Hummels on the brink of a £23.5m switch to rivals Bayern and Christian Pulisic being chased by Klopp.
Chelsea are also set to undergo a facelift under Conte, with the Italian eyeing up Amadou Haidara, Antoine Griezmann and Romelu Lukaku.