Friday 22 January 2016 07:01, UK
Liverpool are in talks with Shakhtar Donetsk over a deal Brazilian forward Alex Teixeira, according to Sky sources.
A delegation headed by managing director Ian Ayre has travelled to Florida, where Shakhtar are currently warm-weather training, and attended their 3-2 friendly defeat against Corinthians in the early hours of Thursday.
Teixera did not play due to a minor hamstring injury but reports in Brazil that the injury was serious are understood to be wide of the mark.
The Brazilian has scored 22 goals in 15 league games for Shakhtar - Liverpool have scored just three more collectively in 22 Premier League games and are currently without injured forwards Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Danny Ings.
Jurgen Klopp opted to start with Roberto Firmino in recent high-profile meetings with Arsenal and Manchester United, leaving £32.5m summer signing Christian Benteke on the bench.
Teixeira hopes a move away from Ukraine will raise his profile and increase his chances of earning a first call-up for Brazil
The 26-year-old is yet to win a senior cap and said recently: "Shakhtar Donetsk are not very big in Brazil, and I think I may need to move on to stand out and earn a place in the squad. That's my goal for 2016."
Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu has already stated he will not stand in the way of a deal for Teixeira "if there is an offer that will satisfy both player and the club".
