Dortmund ready to cash in on Arsenal target Mkhitaryan

Arsenal have been given a huge boost in their chase for Henrikh Mkhitaryan with Borussia Dortmund set to admit defeat in their fight to keep him.

The German club have failed to persuade the 27-year-old Armenian to sign a new deal and he has flatly refused to commit himself without a release clause being included in any fresh contract.

Dortmund no longer allow players to include such fees in their deals after Germany forward Mario Gotze’s was triggered by their big rivals Bayern Munich three years ago.

And they have rejected Mkhitaryan’s wish to have a ‘Tuchel clause’ in his deal - allowing him to leave for a fixed fee if current boss Thomas Tuchel is ever dismissed.