Dominic King of the Daily Mail, a trusted source (unlike many who write for that paper), claims that Liverpool are ready to increase our initial £24.5m offer for Alex Teixeira.
The report says that after having our first bid rejected for Shakhtar’s 26-year-old Brazilian, we’re ready to up the bid to nearer the £30m mark – which the source says is nearer the mark the Ukrainians are after.
Time will tell if this will prove enough for Shakhtar to do business, and then if we can get the player a work-permit, through a medical, and agreeing a contract.
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A fee closer to £30m seems around par in this day and age for a player just turned 26, who’s scored 22 goals in 15 league games this term.
His Champions League brace against Real Madrid in the Group Stages also outlines his pedigree, although he’s yet to receive a call-up for Brazil.
The fact that Kaka still gets in the squad while Coutinho is being currently omitted shows that politics and bizarre choices by manager Dunga more than play their part in Selecao selection, however.
Teixeira and Coutinho actually played together for Vasco de Gama in Brazil between 2009 and 2010, before both departed separately for Europe.
We wonder if our current no.10 has got on the telephone yet!