Blast from the past Alex Teixeira could be perfect Timo Werner alternative for Liverpool – TBR View

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool have missed out on Timo Werner this summer with their reluctance to pay his transfer fee amid the current global health crisis proving costly. 

Chelsea are set to swoop and Jurgen Klopp will not be able to add the attacking depth he hoped amid a season where Sadio Mane and Mo Salah may be on their way to the African Cup of Nations, should that tournament still go ahead. 

But could there be a potential solution to Liverpool’s troubles in a blast from the past. 

Liverpool tried and failed to sign Alex Teixeira from Shakhtar Donetsk back in 2016.  However, Liverpool never managed to agree a fee with his Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk. Chinese side Jiangsu Suning swooped in with an incredible deal for the player, reported by The Guardian to be worth around £38 million, smashing the Chinese transfer record.

It was a similar situation to that involving Werner. As Klopp confirmed to The Daily Mail, Liverpool were not prepared to pay ‘Disneyland’ money for the Brazilian. 

“I am a normal, smart guy so why should I throw away money?. 

“I cannot say it is only money going somewhere else. We have money but we are not in Disneyland and say, ‘Come on take what you want’. We have a budget, we work with it, we have a lot of things to do.”

Teixeira has since gone on to thrive in China, playing in a number of attacking positions. 

But his contract at Jiangsu expires in December. Liverpool are now in a position to start discussing a potential Bosman deal for the 30-year-old, and the Chinese side would undoubtedly consider an earlier sale at a reduced price, over losing him for free. 

Indeed, with foreign players not currently allowed to return to China to train or play, Teixiera has been linked with a potential exit. Globo Esporte has reported on a potential return to Brazil for the player, who scored 18 goals and provided 11 assists in 20 Chinese Super League games last season.

In the absence of Werner, Liverpool could do worse than making a move for a player they previously pulled out of signing due to financial reasons. 

It would not be a long-term option, considering his age, but with Liverpool clearly keen on another attacking option, the former target could be a perfect option if his price-tag reflects his current contract status.