Liverpool set €50m asking price to sign Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira

Liverpool face having to convince Shakhtar Donetsk president Rinat Akhmetov to part ways with Alex Teixeira if they have any desire to sign the Brazilian forward. Mircea Lucescu, the manager of the Ukrainian giants, says Teixeira is worth €50m (£38m, $54m) and has compared him with Paris Saint-Germain's Angel di Maria.

Jurgen Klopp is running out of time to secure what would be his highest profile signing since arriving at Anfield. Marko Grujic has arrived from Red Star Belgrade, with him sent back to his previous club on loan until the end of the season, while Steven Caulker has been signed on loan from Queens Park Rangers until the end of the campaign.

Sky Sports understand negotiations between Liverpool and Shakhtar have stalled over the two clubs' valuation of the player. The Reds have had a bid of £25m rejected, while Shakhtar were initially understood to only be considering offers close to £35m.

However, Lucescu says the asking price has now increased with less than a week remaining of the January transfer window. Liverpool must pay upwards of £38m for the player and they also facing the daunting proposition of having to convince Akhmetov that a deal would suit all parties.

"He's worth €50m," Lucescu told FourFourTwo. "He's incredible, very fast, very good technique. I compare him with other players of the same age who changed [the fortunes of] a club, Di Maria for example at Paris Saint-Germain.

"Teixeira can be at the same level, better even. He doesn't get injured, and every year he gets better and better. Our president knows when it is the time for Teixeira to go. I don't want to keep a player against his desire. He wants to play in a big championship."