Alex Teixeira to Chelsea: Shakhtar Donetsk confirm talks but Blues told to seal £29m move in January

Teixeira has scored 26 goals in as manay games this season but has set his sights on a move to the Premier League

Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Alex Teixeira (Getty Images)

Chelsea are in talks to sign Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Alex Teixeira in a deal worth nearly £30m, but failure to sign him in the January transfer window will cost them significantly more.

25-year-old Teixeira confirmed that negotiations have already begun with the Premier League club after he caught the eye with a magnificent 26 goals in as many games this season, and the Ukrainian club have addressed the reports regarding his possible departure.

Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu confirmed that the current asking price for the Brazilian sits at €40m [£29m], although he went on to explain that if Teixeira can maintain his current form throughout the rest of the season, then the club will demand closer to €50m in the summer.

“Alex is now worth more than €40m,” said Lucescu.

"I think at the end of the season, were he to continue his performance, his value is €50m [£36.3m].

“If he were playing in a more competitive league, his transfer would be at the same level as that of Di Maria,” added Lucescu, acknowledging the recent transfer of the Argentina international after he joined Manchester United from Real Madrid in 2014 for £59.7m before moving on to Paris Saint-Germain just a year later for a reported £44m.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has already played down doing any January transfer business after claiming he cannot go to the board with a list of transfer targets because he “doesn’t deserve it” due to their dismal form this season, but the admissions by Teixeira and Lucescu suggests that the west London club are pressing on regardless.

Teixeira would fit into Chelsea’s efforts to try and get their front-line firing on all cylinders, with Diego Costa scoring just three league goals this season and Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas both yet to get off the mark.

Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Alex Teixeira is in talks with Chelsea (Getty Images)

Currently uncapped by Brazil, Teixeira is in a rich vein of form and has netted 22 times in just 15 Ukrainian Premier League matches, adding a further four in the Champions League despite Shakhtar dropping down to the Europa League.

However, he has been vocal in his desire to secure a move in the near-future, and he added that despite further interest coming from PSG and Juventus “it’s my dream to go to England”.