Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin has spoken about Liverpool’s proposed move for Brazilian star Alex Teixeira, but effectively ruled out any chance of us doing business this month.
Initial reports by the BBC confirmed we made an opening £24.5m bid for the 26-year-old, with the Ukrainians holding out for closer to £39m – but Palkin has now claimed they won’t budge for an ever crazier fee.
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“We are aiming to go far in Europa League and that’s why I want to keep Teixeira until the summer. Anyway, his buyout clause is €70m,” he said, reported in the Echo.
That figure translates to roughly £53m, which would make Teixeira one of the most expensive footballers of all time…
While the Brazilian’s talented and enjoying a brilliant season, that’s a very inflated price for a player never tested in a top league and without international caps aged 26.
If Liverpool were not willing to meet the £39m price-tag, there’s no way we’ll stump up £53m for Teixeira.
The news is sad for both the player and Liverpool fans who were so looking forward to seeing the attacking midfielder at Anfield.
Teixeira has spoken out on multiple occasions, as cited by the BBC article we earlier referenced, that he’s desperate for a switch – but his dream will now have to wait.
In fairness to Shakhtar, you can understand their position. He’s their best player and they’re under no obligation to sell – just as we were not when Luis Suarez first tried to manoeuvre a transfer away from Anfield.
It’s just very disappointing.