Alex Teixeira still has 'dream' of Liverpool move, says former team-mate

Brazilian understood to be hoping for move to Anfield just weeks after moving to Chinese Super League

Liverpool and Chelsea target Alex Teixiera

(Getty)

Alex Teixeira still has a move to Liverpool ‘in his heart’ just weeks after sealing a £38m transfer to the Chinese Super League.

The Brazilian playmaker was a target for Liverpool throughout January, with the club’s chief executive Ian Ayre flying out to Florida to speak to representatives of Shakhtar Donetsk in an effort to complete a deal.

But after two sides failed to agree a price Teixeira opted for a move to Jiangsu Suning, with the Chinese league set to kick off on Friday, March 4.

According to Josef de Souza, a former team-mate of Teixeira who plays for Fenerbahce, the player still wants to move to Anfield. He told Brazilian TV channel Esporte Interativo : “I spoke to Alex, and really, he said that things were well advanced [To go to Liverpool].

“And then I talked to him again, when he signed for the club from China.

“And Alex, I can say that he was totally willing to go to the Premier League. And he still keeps that dream, from what he told me, in his heart.

“Of course he wanted to play for Liverpool, play in the Premier League. But it happened, football has these things.

“I think it was good for him, good for his family. Our career is very short, and the more you can combine one thing with another: play in a good league and earn money, that’s great.

“But if you can’t put the two together, it is obvious that filling your pockets will speak much louder.”