Chelsea target Alex Teixeira: Shakhtar Donetsk forward admits Blues interest and Jose Mourinho admiration

Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira has admitted that his dream destination is Chelsea after revealing that the Blues along with Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus have contacted his agent about a move. The Brazilian revealed that the Premier League will be his first preference despite suggesting that he will be happy at any of the three clubs that have shown interest.

According to the London Evening Standard, the free-scoring forward is one of Jose Mourinho's prime January transfer window targets as he looks for a solution for their lack of goals this season. Teixeira has been plundering goals in the Ukrainian league this campaign and has already notched up 19 goals in just 13 appearances. Shakhtar, however, are reluctant to sell the forward in January and have reportedly made it clear that the Blues will have to meet their valuation of £30m ($45m) to have any chance of signing him in the upcoming transfer window.

The 25-year-old forward also believes that a move is possible only in the summer, and is hoping that Mourinho remains at the helm at Stamford Bridge. The Portuguese manager's future at the club has been in the balance following Chelsea's disastrous start to the 2015/16 campaign. The reigning Premier League champions are currently in the 15<sup>th place, and are 14 points behind league leaders Leicester City.

"What I saw and what my agent said was that Chelsea, Juventus and PSG have made proposals. But Chelsea and Juventus are deeper in the negotiations. They are three big clubs. Where I go, I'll be happy," Teixeira said, as quoted by the London Evening Standard.

"[The Premier League] is my dream. I'm happy to get a proposal from Chelsea, a big club in Europe, but my agent takes care of it."

"For January, I believe it is very difficult to leave because it is in the middle of the championship. Shakhtar told me they will not release me in January; only at the end of the season. But I'm with a clear head," he added.

"[Mourinho] is the world's best. I'll learn a lot. Hope he doesn't leave Chelsea. I want to work with him and have great success. I don't know if it was Mourinho who suggested me to Chelsea, but I read that he was keeping an eye on my football," the Brazilian explained.