The Guardian. Liverpool target £22m Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar Donetsk

Liverpool have identified Shakhtar Donetsk's Henrikh Mkhitaryan as a leading transfer target for the summer and are not deterred by the £22m price tag on one of the most coveted players in European football.

The Anfield club have registered their interest in the Armenia international, who scored a record 25 goals in the Ukrainian Premier League last season despite operating as an attacking midfielder. Mkhitaryan put Europe's leading clubs on alert following Shakhtar's elimination from the Champions League by admitting he wanted to play for "one of the strongest clubs in the world", and the 24-year-old was subsequently linked with Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Liverpool, however, tracked the midfielder throughout last season and believe Mkhitaryan would consider a move to Anfield despite the lack of European football currently on offer and rival interest.

Armenia's three-time player of the year was a priority signing for the Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers, before Luis Suárez began pushing for the move that could transform the club's transfer strategy and budget. Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's owners, are prepared to sanction a big money move for Mkhitaryan without a deal in place for Suarez, with both Real and Atletico Madrid interested in the Uruguay international, although uncertainty over other Anfield players is a complication at present.

Liverpool agreed a £15m deal with West Ham United for Andy Carroll within days of the Premier League season ending and had hoped the transfer would be completed swiftly to allow them to move on to targets such as Mkhitaryan. But the England international has refused to be pushed into joining Sam Allardyce's team on a long-term basis, following a successful though injury-plagued season on loan, and has been waiting for other options.