Liverpool's move for Alex Teixeira on verge of breaking down after rift with Shakhtar over fee

Alex Teixeira's proposed move to Liverpool is on the verge of breaking down with Shakhtar Donestsk unwilling to let the player leave for less than £38m ($55m) they value the midfielder at. The midfielder was top of Jurgen Klopp's list for a move in January but any hope of completing the transfer is fast diminishing, with the Ukranian club unwilling to negotiate over the transfer fee.

The Liverpool Echo reports that Liverpool are not willing to match Shakhtar's fee, with their initial offer of £24.5m ($35m) still standing. Chief Executive Ian Ayre had flown down to Florida to continue talks with the Shakhtar management, who are currently organising their winter training camp in the US.

The prolific midfielder has previously expressed his desire to make a move to Anfield but things are not in his hands as both clubs have hit an impasse regarding the transfer. Klopp had recently bemoaned the transfer fees being quoted by clubs making it extremely difficult to complete deals. The Reds have put through only two signings thus far — loan deals for Steven Caulker from Queens Park Rangers, and Marko Grujic, who has been sent back to SuperLiga Club Red Star Belgrade.

Time is running out for the Reds, who are currently eight points adrift of a place in the top four but have managed to progress into the final of the Capital One Cup to face Manchester City by beating Stoke City in a penalty shootout at Anfield. The Merseyside club entered the second leg at Anfield with a 1-0 advantage from Britannia but Marko Arnautovic's goal evened out the contest, taking it to penalties.

The current situation suggests that only a major shift in stance from either side will see the deal going through, something which looks unlikely at the moment. The Reds are still without Daniel Sturridge, Martin Skrtel and Philippe Coutinho but have managed to overcome their injury crisis, which had handicapped them midway through the month.