Liverpool planning increased bid for Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira amid Chelsea interest

Liverpool are planning to increase their bid for Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira as negotiations for a move to Anfield during the ongoing January transfer window continue. The Merseyside club's chief executive Ian Ayre has returned to England following initial talks with the Ukrainian club, who are currently training in the United States.

According to the Guardian, the Reds are considering upping the bid after initially offering €32m (£24.6m, $34.7m) for the free-scoring forward, who can operate in any position in the front three or even play as an attacking midfielder. But Liverpool are unlikely to meet Shakhtar's asking price of €50m (£38m, $54.2m) for Teixeira.

Jurgen Klopp, who was speaking ahead of his team's clash against Norwich City on Saturday, has admitted that the club would be interested in signing a player, who can help them improve their goal tally immediately but is not willing to spend "crazy money" to make the addition this month. Teixeira has scored 22 goals in 15 league games for the Ukrainian side, which is three short of Liverpool's goal tally in the Premier League thus far this campaign.

"You can't just go 'We have money', and throw it away and take any players you want. It is always about the decision, you can sign a lot of rubbish with money or you can make really good decisions," Klopp said, as quoted by the Daily Telegraph.

"I cannot say, 'It is only money going somewhere else'. We have money but we are not in Disneyland and can say, 'Come on, take what you want'. We have a budget, we work with it. We have a lot of things to do; the club is building a stand, this is for the long-term development of the club. I know I can handle pressure really good. Now we have a situation where we think 'What will help'?"

"Who can help from next season on for three, four, five years? In the summer we will have to make decisions; that is normal. Now we have to work on this situation and then in the summer, believe me, we will be prepared for the next season," he added.

According to Goal.com, Teixeira is also keen on a move to Liverpool, who are the only club to make an official approach, and his representatives are said to be confident about concluding a deal this month. But the Reds will not have it easy as Chelsea have also shown a keen interest in the forward and could rival any bid made by Liverpool.