Dortmund eye Schürrle as potential Mkhitaryan replacement

Borussia Dortmund are weighing up a move for VfL Wolfsburg's André Schürrle as a potential replacement for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, according to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

Mkhitaryan, who has one year remaining on his current contract, is attracting interest from Manchester United and Arsenal.

Dortmund are reluctant to allow the 27-year-old Armenian to leave, preferring to lose the player for free in a year's time, rather than cash in this summer. But their stance may be softening as Di Marzio claims they have identified Schürrle as the ideal replacement for Mkhitaryan, and have made contact with Wolfsburg about a deal for the versatile midfielder.

"The German club [Dortmund] has contacted Wolfsburg about André Schürrle," Di Marzio reports. "This is the initial inquiry to acquire the player."

As already detailed by Eye Football, Di Marzio has reported that United have had a €25 million offer for Mkhitaryan rejected by BVB, but the door is no longer quite as closed as it had previously been, with the Germans now willing to sell for €40 million, whereas they had previously insisted that the player would not be allowed to leave.

Although Arsenal were first to register an interest in Mkhitaryan, United are now be believed to be leading the chase for the player who scored 19 goals and registered 24 assists for BVB last season.