Liverpool may have to smash transfer record for major target – expert

Liverpool may have to eclipse the £35m they paid for Andy Carroll in January 2011 with a £39m offer for
Shakhtar Donetsk’s Alex Teixeira if they want to sign him this month, according to European football expert, Andy Brassell.

The Reds have emerged as shock candidates to sign the free-scoring attacking midfielder from the Ukrainian giants over the course of the past couple of days and have already had an offer of £24.5m knocked back.

However, the club remain confident that a compromise will be reached with Shakhtar – who are currently on a mid-season break in Florida – before the close of the window, while Chelsea are also keen.

However, the interested clubs may well have to bow to the wealthy Eastern Europeans’ demands, as Brassell told BBC 5Live:

“Shakhtar would ideally like to keep him until the end of the season.

"I think there’s an awareness of how much money there is in the Premier League at the moment.

“They’re thinking this is a guy at his absolute peak, he’s just turned 26, and the very best clubs in England do want him. I think there’s a sense of maybe they can get an auction going and get exactly what they want for him."

When asked if that figure is £39m, Brasell said: “That’s what they would like.”

Teixeira, despite his blistering form this season, is yet to represent Brazil at senior international level.