Chelsea no longer in pole position for Alex Teixeira — report

After all the rumors and all the stories, all the hints and all the pleas, it suddenly seems like Chelsea might miss out on highly coveted Alex Teixeira.  That's what "Sky sources", whoever and wherever they may be, are claiming.

Alex Teixeira has told Shakhtar Donetsk he wants to join Liverpool, according to Sky sources.

-source: Sky

That preference seems to be based on Teixeira's friendship with Liverpool's collection of Brazil B-teamers; Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Leiva are apparently "two of his best friends".  Time for a charm offensive, Mr. Willian!

In all seriousness, missing out on the Shakhtar man after all the words about his supposed desire to come to Chelsea would be a bit disappointing.  Especially if he ended up going to Liverpool.  Obviously, we can't win all the transfer battles, we can't sign every single player, and not every plan with work out as we expect them to, but given the criticisms our front office have come under since Mourinho's sacking, this would surely be looked at as another massive failure.

On the other hand, as Sky's story also makes reference to, Shakhar were determined not to sell their goal-machine in the winter.  With a tight race in the Ukrainian Premier League and designs on winning the Europa League, presumably they will reject this latest approach as well, perhaps even if Liverpool do pony up the €50m asking price.  We had assumed this would eventually come to a summer bidding war.  Klopp & Co. seem to be pushing to get it done in January.  We still have time to act, but time's running out.