• Premier League

Reds target Mkhitaryan a no-show at Shakhtar

ESPN staff
June 25, 2013
Shakhtar Donetsk insist that Liverpool have not yet made an approach for Henrikh Mkhitaryan © PA Photos
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Liverpool transfer target Henrikh Mkhitaryan has failed to report to training with Shakhtar Donetsk, the club's general manager Sergey Palkin has confirmed.

Shakhtar have again stated they are yet to receive a firm offer from Liverpool for Mkhitaryan, even though reports in the English media in the last couple of weeks have suggested that the Anfield club were hoping to sign the 24-year-old Armenian midfielder imminently.

The story took a fresh twist on Tuesday when Mkhitaryan failed to report to training, inspiring comments from a clearly disappointed Palkin.

"Mkhitaryan has not appeared for training. We do not know if he will arrive in the near future. He will be fined," Palkin is quoted in the Daily Mirror. "We have not heard that Mkhitaryan wants to leave. All questions about his behaviour need to be addressed to him."

Meanwhile, Palkin went on to insist the club have not had any contact with Liverpool over a possible transfer of Mkhitaryan, as he stated his hope that the player and his advisers had not been indulging in unofficial talks with the Merseyside club.

"He has not had any contact with Liverpool," added Palkin. "I'm confident that reports of negotiations are just rumours. Liverpool have not made an enquiry about the player."

The player himself had early suggested he would not cause Shakhtar any trouble while his future was being decided, writing on Twitter: "I am happy to see that people show keen interest in my career but I would like to ask all not only to refrain from making comments but also to prevent the spread of unverified and false information. I am not meddling with these affairs. If have a contract with a club, I just fulfil it.

"If an agreement is reached between clubs I will be informed of the details and then will accept or reject it."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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