Liverpool given fresh Mkhitaryan hope, Suarez latest, Downing exit

Liverpool have been given renewed hope in landing Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan after a day of reports, rumours and even “sightings” of Mkhitaryan between Heathrow Airport and Liverpool.

Earlier today we reported that German Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund had launched a bid for Mkhitaryan, eyeing the Armenian international to replace Mario Gotze, who has signed for rivals Bayern Munich.

However, Mirror reporter David Anderson has this afternoon revealed that Dortmund’s bid was wasted, falling short of Shakhtar’s asking price of £25million.

Ukranian football website, football.ua, report this afternoon that Shakhtar general director Sergei Palkin has confirmed the bid from Dortmund, the first time he has confirmed interest from a club in Mkhitaryan this summer.

Yesterday he denied reports that Liverpool had been in negotiations over the 24-year-old midfielder.

Click here for Thursday morning’s LFC transfer round-up

Meanwhile over in Spain, newly appointed Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has “refused to clarify his position over the pursuit of Liverpool’s Luis Suarez“, according to talkSPORT

“We haven’t spoken yet about new signings, because it’s my first day here,” Ancelotti said on his unveiling at the Bernabeu. “Today I can not say who goes or who stays. There is no time. In the coming days we will know.”

The Birmingham Mail report Aston Villa’s interest in resigning Stewart Downing, who left the club for Liverpool two years ago.

Downing was made available for transfer by Brendan Rodgers last season, but enjoyed a resurgence of form in the second half of the campaign and is one of the Reds’ few wide options.

The Independent have also been involved in today’s Rumour Mill, suggesting that Liverpool’s interest in Portuguese defender Tiago Ilori has hit a problem.

They report:

Liverpool do have an interest in the player and Sporting’s hand may be forced by their urgent need of money from the transfer market this summer. Sources in Portugal have suggested that Liverpool have offered €3.5m net (£2.9m) for the 20-year-old, who was born in London though who has played all of his youth football in Portugal, with the last seven years in Sporting’s youth ranks.

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