Henrikh Mkhitaryan says he could have joined Liverpool or Tottenham in 2013

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Arsenal attacker Henrikh Mkhitaryan has told Italian outfit Siamo La Roma that he could have joined either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2013 – before eventually completing a move to Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund.

Mkhitaryan, 31, is currently on loan at Serie A side AS Roma from Arsenal, after a difficult spell in north London with the Gunners where he scored just nine goals in 59 games. At Roma, though, he has had a hand in 10 goals in just 17 outings.

Despite his brief resurgence in Italy, Armenia international Mkhitaryan has struggled over the past couple of years – since moving to Manchester United from Dortmund. At the German club, he was involved in 90 goals in just 140 games.

Asked about his move to Dortmund from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013, Mkhitaryan stated that he was waiting on Tottenham and travelled to London with Mino Raiola to speak with Spurs – as well as waiting for Liverpool, before Klopp won the race.

“I left with Raiola for London, initially to speak with Tottenham,” Mkhitaryan said. “We were waiting for offers from Liverpool but we weren’t sure. Then we received the call from Dortmund and immediately flew to Germany.

“They had sold Götze and needed a new ‘number 10’. In Liverpool and Tottenham the seats were already taken, so moving to Borussia was the best thing to do. Klopp immediately told me his ideas, where he saw me on the pitch.”

TBR’s view – Mkhitaryan, a good signing for Spurs or Liverpool?

Back in 2013, Mkhitaryan was still somewhat an unknown – given he was on his way to the top European clubs from Ukraine. His form at Dortmund suggests he would have been a top signing, but his form in England suggests the opposite.

Dortmund was the making of Mkhitaryan while England was his career’s unravelling. Indeed, Liverpool and Spurs are probably thankful they did not sign Mkhitaryan – least not for the enormous price paid by Manchester United to sign him.

Now, Italian outlet CalcioMercato have claimed that Roma will have to stump up £18.5million to sign Mkhitaryan.