The famous U-turn route of going back to Borussia Dortmund after leaving the club is back on, as it seems, as the German giants are reportedly interested in bringing back Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
United head coach recently criticized the Armenian about his underwhelming performances in recent months, which could pave a way for him to return to his former club. Former Manchester United playmaker Shinji Kagawa had also followed the same path of going back to Dortmund, after initially moving from the Bundesliga and there’s a chance that the Armenian might as well follow suit.
But can United afford to lose their main attacking playmaker?
The Red Devils have started the season in an impressive fashion with eight wins in twelve games. However, their lack of consistency has been a major cause for concern for coach Jose Mourinho and it may also correlate with Mkhitaryan’s lack of form in recent games.
However, regardless of how the former Shakhtar playmaker has performed in recent games, Mkhitaryan still remains a vital part of Manchester United’s offensive department. In fact, the 28-year-old has probably been the only player to step up to the plate, offensively, this season.
Apart from being the most active attacker on the final third, Mkhitaryan has also been the most creative player for Manchester United this season. The Armenian has created the most number of chances for the Red Devils this season, with a total of 24 chances. Juan Mata comes second on the list, with just 14 chances, which evidently points out the fact that Mkhitaryan has been an imperious part of Manchester United this campaign.
His agility and direct runs have often been essential for the Red Devils, in the final third. Not only did he create the most chances, but also notched up six assists.
On the flip side, however, Mkhitaryan has found the back of the net only twice this season, which can be a cause for concern. But considering the fact that the Red Devils already have a plethora of attacking superstars who very well know how to score, Mkhitaryan’s role as a creative spark in the team will be essential for the Red Devils for the remainder of the season.
In light of various transfer speculations about Manchester United being linked with a host of world-class attacking talents in the transfer market, Mkhitaryan’s first team chances might drastically decrease. However, for the time being, the Armenian is perhaps the most important cog in the United attack and the PL giants certainly can’t afford to lose him until proper replacements arrive.
