Alex Teixeira: Five things you need to know about the man Liverpool and Chelsea want to sign
Video: Five things about the man who could be about to join the ranks among the Premier League elite
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool and Chelsea are locked in a race to sign Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira - with the Reds leading the way with a £24.6m bid last week.
But who is the man Jurgen Klopp hopes will add some magic to his stuttering Reds side?
Bagging 22 goals in just 15 league games (26 in 26 all comps) this season, it's no wonder Europe's biggest clubs have had their heads turned.
The 26-year-old’s rise from promising Vasco da Gama academy product to being a leading light in European football has been a gradual one. After scoring 11 goals in 51 appearances for his childhood club, Shakhtar’s offer of €6m (£4.6m), seven years ago, proved too tempting to turn down.
Teixeira, meanwhile, was concurrently climbing the Brazil youth ladder, making appearances for the under-15s, under-17s and under-20s sides, but is yet to be given a chance with Dunga’s seniors. A move to England would likely be greeted well by the Brazilian Football Confederation.
Since joining Shakhtar in 2009, the Duque de Caxias-born forward has lifted five Premier Division titles, three Ukrainian Cups and the same number of Ukrainian Super Cups. In short, Teixeira is no stranger to the expectations which come with representing big clubs. Both Liverpool and Chelsea, however, come with their unique challenges.
Having played alongside Willian before the latter’s subsequent switch to Stamford Bridge, many assumed a move to Chelsea was inevitable once the Blues revealed their interest this month. The Klopp-effect, however, isn’t to be underestimated.
Having previously dented Chelsea’s Champions League hopes, with the opener in a 2-1 group stage victory in 2013, his talents are already known to English scouts. Mircea Lucescu, the Shakhtar boss, has since carried himself with the demeanour of a man who appears consigned to losing another of his star players.
"If there is an offer that will satisfy both player and the club I will fully support his move," said Lucescu recently.
"At the moment, Alex is Shakhtar's player. We'll see in the summer, now there's no point talking about it. This year, he needs to play so that he grows even more, despite the fact that Alex's level is very high even today.
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