According to reports from London Evening Standard, Shakhtar Donetsk have informed Chelsea that it will cost them £30million to sign star attacker Alex Teixeira in January.
The Brazilian moved to the Donbass Arena in January 2010 after excelling at Vasco da Gama and has gone on to claim 83 goals in 217 appearances, helping fire Shakhtar to five consecutive Premier League titles and three Ukranian Cups.
But the attacking midfielder has really upped his game over the last few years, in no small part due to a number of Donetsk’s major names – such as Luiz Adriano, Douglas Costa, Willian, Fernandinho and Henrikh Mkhitaryan – moving en masse to Europe’s more popular top flights, allowing him a more significant role in the starting Xi. In the absence of the aforementioned, Teixeria has bagged 43 goals in his last 59 appearances across all competitions to become one of Ukrainian football’s main attractions.
Sensing the 25-year-old could transition to mainstream European football as effectively as his predecessors, Chelsea have been targeting Teixeira ahead of the January transfer window, something confirmed by the player himself. The former Brazil U21 told reporters last month; “I have an offer. It was a pleasure to know that Chelsea wants to sign me. It would be great if the transfer already happens in January.”
The news comes in the context of Chelsea’s woeful start to the season, finding themselves in 16th place and 13 points off a Champions League spot. Although their defensive record is amongst the worst in the division, the Blues’ goals for column isn’t up to much either – 16 scored in twelve games – and the attacking third has become a real concern for Jose Mourinho.
Strike-force Diego Costa, Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao have scored just three Premier League goals between them, whilst Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and even summer signing Pedro have all been dropped for short periods following inadequate performances. Providing creativity and goals whilst maintaining defensive shape has been the biggest challenge for Chelsea’s advanced players and as an attacking midfielder who scores regularly, Teixeira could be the answer.
Although Shakhtar are open to selling their talismanic attacker in January, based upon the assumption that they won’t escape a Champions League group containing Real Madrid and PSG to make the tournament’s round of 16, the Ukranian outfit still expect to take in £30million from Teixeira’s departure – a sum largely in line with the fees received for Willian and Fernandinho.