Liverpool hijack Chelsea's £25m move for forward as chief flies out to seal deal

LIVERPOOL have made a bid to sign Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira.

    Wanted: Liverpool have made a bid for Alex Teixeira

LIVERPOOL have made a bid to sign Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira.

Jurgen Klopp wants the Brazilian to help solve his side's striking problems which has seen them score just 25 goals in 22 league games.

The Reds have made a £25m bid and chief executive Ian Ayre has flown to Florida, where Shakhtar are at a winter training camp, to try and thrash out a deal.

Chelsea had appeared to be in pole position to sign Teixeira with the player welcoming the club's interest in him.

However, the move has stalled in recent days and the Blues have switched their attentions to Alexandre Pato and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

An Anfield source exclusively revealed yesterday that Shakhtar's billionaire president Rinat Akhmetov is refusing the player in the January transfer window.

An inside source said: "I know Shakhtar well and they will not let this happen in this window."

But Liverpool hope they can reach an agreement with Klopp wanting to add reinforcements to his front line.

Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Danny Ings are all currently sidelined by injury while Christian Benteke is struggling to adapt tp the German's methods.

The Belgian has been a substitute in Liverpool's last two league games against Arsenal and Manchester United while he once again drew a blank in front of goal last night against League Two Exeter in the Reds' 3-0 FA Cup third round replay.

Teixeira has scored 22 goals in 15 league games this season while he has also scored three goals in six Champions League appearances.