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‘Phenomenal’ Eastern European to become a Red star?

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LFC target MkhitaryanMANY players are going to be linked with a transfer to Liverpool FC between now and when the actual transfer window opens.

The latest gaining momentum in various media outlets is Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, so I thought I would find out more about the player that may grace the Anfield turf for the 2013/2014 season.

Henrikh was born in the Armenian capital Yerevan in January 1989 and the 24 year old comes from a footballing family: his late father Hamlet, was a striker with FC Ararat Yerevan, his mother is the Armenian Football Federations Head of National Teams and his sister Monica works for governing body, UEFA.

Mkhitaryan started his footballing career with the Pyunik FC youth team. He made his debut for the first team in 2006 at the age of 17 from which Pyunik proceeded to win the league title four times between 2006 and 2009 (also winning the Armenian Super Cup in 2007 and again in 2009). During the 2009 season he scored 11 goals in 10 league games and this impressive form earned him a move to Ukrainian Premier League side Metalurh Donetsk. Throughout his time with Pyunik, Henrikh scored 30 goals in 70 games.

He was made captain of Metalurh Donetsk at the age of 21 making him the youngest captain in the history of the club. During his two years with Metalurh Donetsk he played 46 times scoring 17 goals.

Rivals Shakhtar Donetsk then bought Henrikh for $7.5 million dollars. He has won the Ukrainian league twice with Shakhtar 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, two Ukrainian cups, again in 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, and one Ukrainian Super Cup in 2012.

He has international experience playing 36 times for Armenia scoring 10 goals and now also has European experience, playing 8 times this season scoring 2 goals in the Champions League. Mkhitaryan is fluent in English so would not have an issue with the language if he chose to move to England.
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Mkhitaryan’s Style of Play

He is 5ft 10” who plays in numerous attacking roles. Mkhitaryan’s best position is just behind the striker were he links well with his teammates in and around the box. Tearing apart defences time after time, he creates the space for the wingers / strikers to exploit and creates goalscoring chances.

Henrikh has received praise from many people for his accurate passing, ball control, work rate, exciting creativity skills and his dribbling ability. He is equipped with an ‘eye’ for a pass, possesses a cracking shot and has the trickery to beat opposing players.

During this campaign, match analyst and former footballer Pat Nevin said this of Shakhtar’s number 22:

“Eleven goals in eight league matches already is fantastic, but when you add that he is a midfielder, it is phenomenal. You may not have heard of him yet, even if all the scouts at the top European clubs have, but you soon will. He has pace, skill, a rocket of a shot and the ability to arrive in the box like Frank Lampard. This all singles him out as a player who must be watched or more importantly marked.”

As of April 2013 Henrikh has played 64 times for Shakhtar Donetsk scoring an impressive 32 goals.

Mkhitaryan certainly has the ability and is a quality player who would complement our attacking options very nicely. It is now up to Brendan Rodgers whether he would like Henrikh to join our squad in the summer.

Follow me on Twitter @MRSSG
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I am a lifelong Liverpool supporter from Huyton Liverpool just like Stevie G and go all over the world supporting my team I go the games in my wheelchair as I suffer from Cerebral Palsy however that does not stop me having a ball cheering on the World’s Best Team.
I write a weekly column talking about various topics whether that is tactical analysis of matches, opinion pieces, looking through the archives of previous matches, former players and current articles on Brendan and the first team.
It is great being part of the first class writing team at Live4liverpool.com and bucking the trend in being the first woman to write for the site.
Follow me on Twitter @MRSSG to keep up to date with my articles. Y.N.W.A

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