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Confirmed: Teixeira is set for £38.4million move to China in massive Liverpool blow
By North-west correspondent Alex Stevens
Alex Teixeira is poised to make a £38.4million move to China this month in a huge blow to Liverpool, according to Shakhtar Donetsk.
The club’s manager Mircea Lucescu has confirmed reports that the Brazilian is heading to Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning.
Football Insider reported on Thursday morning that Teixeira was in advanced talks to snub Liverpool and move to the Far East.
The Brazilian playmaker came close to moving to Anfield in the January transfer window but the Merseysiders could not agree a fee with his club Shakhtar Donetsk.
Liverpool had two bids, of £24.6million and £29million, rejected by the Ukranian club before they pulled the plug on the deal.
Lucescu told ESPN Brazil on Thursday night that Teixeira is now set to be transferred to the newly rich Chinese Super League and link up with Ramires at Jiangsu.
“We have agreed to sell Alex Teixeira to China,” Lucescu told ESPN Brasil. “But we will wait a little to finalise it due to what happened with Luiz Adriano. But it’s all confirmed on our side.”
Ramires joined from Chelsea last month in a £25million deal and the fee for his fellow Brazilian will be worth around £38million, the biggest transfer deal of the year so far.
It is the latest massive statement of intent by the Chinese league, with Guaghzuo Evergrande paying Atletico Madrid £32million for Jackson Martinez earlier this week. The Chinese transfer window does not close until 26 February.
Green light: Klopp admitted on deadline day Liverpool tried to sign Teixeira
It is also a massive blow to Liverpool’s transfer plans, as the Merseysiders were planning to come back in this summer with a fresh bid for Teixeira, who went public in January with his interest in moving to Anfield.
Teixeira is an attacking midfielder who can play in all three positions behind the centre-forward and is renowned for his eye for goal. He is not yet a full Brazil international but he has scored three goals in seven games for the country’s Under-20s.
He has scored a staggering 22 goals in 15 league matches this season, and has struck 26 times in 26 appearances in all competitions for the Ukranian club.
Jurgen Klopp spoke about Liverpool’s pursuit of Teixeira on deadline day and insisted the club’s decision not to bid a higher fee for the player was the correct one.