Shakhtar Donetsk star Alex Teixeira wants Premier League move amid Liverpool and Chelsea interest

Liverpool forward target Alex Teixeira has told his current employers Shakhtar Donetsk that he is keen on a move during the ongoing January transfer window rather than in the summer. The Reds have already registered a bid of around £24.6m ($35m) with Jurgen Klopp looking to bolster his forward line as they look to reignite their bid for a place in the top four of the Premier League.

The Brazilian attacker, who can play as a forward or as an advanced midfield player, has scored 22 goals in 15 appearances thus far this campaign and is also a target for reigning English champions Chelsea. The Ukranian club, however, value him much higher than the proposed bid, and according to the Guardian the Merseyside club are preparing a better offer as they are keen on beating off competition and concluding the transfer during this window rather than wait until the summer.

Teixeira has made it very clear that he wants to move to a more competitive league and the English top-flight is his preferred choice. He is aware of interest from both Chelsea and Liverpool, but is yet to commit to either club, as he waits for permission from his current employers. The 26-year-old has also revealed that his main motivation to move to a bigger league is to realise his ambition of playing for the Brazil national team.

"I would like to move in this transfer window and have told them [Shakhtar] that. They have received a very good offer and they are working on a solution. But if I don't go now then I will leave in the summer. After six years in Europe and with Shakhtar we are ready to move and I have spoken to my wife and daughter," Teixeira told Brazilian publication Globo, as translated by the Guardian.

"It is my desire to move to a big league and I know that the English league is very strong. I am ready and I know that I will grow up a lot there. I am aware that two big clubs such as Liverpool and Chelsea are interested but I haven't given my word to either of them."

"I am not ruling out other leagues but I do want to play in the Premier League. In my mind, it is the strongest in the world. I want a challenge and to further my career there. My aim is to move to a big club so that I can well there and get a place in the Brazil squad. Everyone knows that it is hard to achieve and I need to leave here to achieve that goal," the Shakhtar forward added.

However, The Mirror understands that the Ukrainian club will make it difficult for Liverpool to sign Teixeira in January as they are unwilling to drop their asking price and maintain that any interested club will have to meet their valuation, which is around £38m ($54m). But the Merseyside club are hoping that an improved bid in the region of £30m ($43m) should tempt the club into sanctioning the move, especially since the player has expressed his desire to leave Donetsk.