Chelsea transfer rumours and news: Blues confident on Alex Teixeira; Alexandre Pato has options; Ivanovic nears new deal

All the latest transfer rumours and news coming from Stamford Bridge on Friday 22 January 2016

Alex Teixeira has scored 67 goals in 146 games for Shakhtar (Getty)

Chelsea remain optimistic they will beat Liverpool to the signing of Shakhtar ​Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira - despite the Reds submitting a £25m offer yesterday morning. According to the Daily Mirror, the Ukrainian club have rejected that bid and it remains to be seen if Liverpool will return with improved terms.

The Blues have courted the Brazilian for almost 12 months and believe he would prefer to join them over a switch to Anfield. The Merseyside club’s emergence in negotiations, however, is likely to spark an unwelcome bidding war and force Guus Hiddink’s men to accelerate their interest in a forward who has scored 67 goals in 146 league games.

Alexandre Pato has a choice of four clubs this month, including Chelsea and Liverpool, according to the former AC Milan striker’s agent. Speaking to UOL Esporte, he claimed the Premier League pair – already at loggerheads over Teixeira – were locked in a fierce battle to lure Pato to England.

The 26-year-old is thought to be keen on a return to Europe with the Blues considered favourites to secure his signature before the deadline on February 1. Sporting Lisbon and Benfica are the other clubs hoping to wrap up a deal but the riches of English football are likely to lure him to either Stamford Bridge or Anfield.

Branislav Ivanovic joined Chelsea in 2008 (Getty Images)

Defender Branislav Ivanovic is set to sign a new one-year contract extension with Chelsea. The Serbian has suffered a mixed season so far but appears to be getting back to form under Hiddink.

Ivanovic is said to be on £120,000-a-week at Stamford Bridge and, according to the Daily Express, will continue to be paid that amount as part of his new deal. The 31-year-old joined Chelsea from Lokomotiv Moscow in January 2008 and has since made 341 appearances for the club, scoring 32 times.

The leak appears to confirm Gareth Bale’s transfer fee was a world record (Getty)

Gareth Bale, linked with the Blues this month, has a clause in his contract stipulating former club Tottenham have the first option to sign the Welshman. If the La Liga side accepted a bid from any other Premier League club before June 30 2019, Spurs would then have 72 hours to match the offer, in which case Real would have to sell to the north Londoners.

The clause was revealed in leaked documents this week as the theory Bale is the most expensive player in the world seemingly being confirmed. Madrid insist the transfer was completed for £70.38m, more than £3m less than what was paid for Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the leaked document suggests they parted with as much as £77.45m in several instalments. Speaking this week, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino said: "I think if we have the option to sign him - why not? He's a great player and a player that can improve our squad.