Liverpool bid for Alex Teixeira?

Liverpool are said to have made a formal approach for Chelsea target and Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Alex Teixeira.

The 26-year-old Brazilian has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League with Chelsea this month.

However, according to The Mirror, Reds managing director Ian Ayre has flown to Shakhtar's winter training base in Florida to try and hijack the deal.

It is added that Reds have submitted a bid of around £25m which is well below Shakhtar's £40m valuation for the player.

Nevertheless, the Ukrainian side would be willing to negotiate a fee before the winter transfer deadline.

Teixeira netted 26 goals for Shakhtar during the first half of the season.