Shane Long's proposed move to Liverpool looks increasingly unlikely given that the Anfield club have made a surprising €32 million bid for Shakhtar Donetsk's in demand Brazilian attacker Alex Teixeira.
The 26 year old has long been linked with Chelsea but the most recents reports in that regard had suggested that any move to Stamford Bridge would be postponed until the summer. However, it would appear that Liverpool have stolen a significant march on their Premier League rivals with a move that has certainly come as a bit of a surprise to say the least.
Now usually we wouldn't bother giving this kind of report a second thought. It has 'errant transfer rumour' written all over it and we'd leave it firmly in the 'Alex Pato to absolutely anyone who'll take him' bin. However, it would seem this has some genuine substance to it when you consider that it has come from The Times Liverpool correspondent, Tony Barrett, who is about as reliable a source as you're likely to get when it comes to football on Merseyside.
Liverpool have made a €32m offer for Alex Teixeira but Shakhtar Donetsk are seeking closer to €50m for the attacker.
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarrett) January 21, 2016
It's taken as a given that if he's put his name to it, there's something to it and it would seem that Ian Ayre, Liverpool's chief executive, is currently in Florida negotiating with Shakhtar over a player who has scored a whopping 22 league goals in 15 games so far this season.
Despite that goalscoring record, it must be pointed out that Teixeira has been seen as more of a number 10 for much of his career. Given the discrepancies in Liverpool's bid and the value that the Ukrainian side have placed on Teixeira's head, it seems there's still quite a way before this becomes a reality but there will certainly be some questions asked about the type of player that's being targeted.
Liverpool are well stocked with attacking midfielders and Roberto Firmino's false 9 central position has proven to be a bit of a problem in recent weeks. As such it had been thought that Klopp would look to a striker who could stretch the play in a manner that Christian Benteke has been unable to so far this season.
You would imagine that another number 10 is the last thing Liverpool need at the moment. As such, the only thing that would seem reasonable is that they've seen Teixeira's goalscoring form this season and plan on utilising him as an out and out striker. That would put paid to any chance of seeing Shane Long in a Liverpool jersey ahead of Euro 2016. You can decide for yourself whether that's a good thing or not.
