“We’ll have to talk to Arsenal” – Manager makes it clear he wants to sign Gunners player

Henrihk Mkhitaryan’s permanent move to AS Roma sounds a lot more likely following the latest quotes from manager Paulo Fonseca.

The Portuguese boss has been interviewed by Russian TV show Great Football, and made it clear that both he and the player want the transfer at the end of the season.

“I want him to stay and he also wants to stay,” Paulo Fonseca told Great Football (via Il Messaggero).

“However, it should be clear that everything is now on hiatus, and we’ll have to talk to Arsenal. I want to continue working with him because he’s a great player and a great man.”

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Roma paid a fee of €3m to sign Mkhitaryan from Arsenal on a one-year loan deal last summer. The money was worth it so far, since the midfielder has six goals and four assists in 20 appearances for the club this season.

But since there’s no buying option in the agreement, the Giallorrosi must negotiate a fee with the Gunners to sign him permanently.

Recent reports from the Italian media have claimed that Mkhitaryan would even accept to lower his wages to stay at Roma, but Arsenal’s latest demands have been a little higher than what the Serie A side want to pay for the player.