Back in 2013, Shakhtar Donetsk winger Willian took Liverpool’s fancy. He had long been linked with a move away from the Ukraine to one of Europe’s leading lights and Brendan Rodgers thought he had a ‘perfect’ signing on his hands.
That was before Tottenham, then Chelsea, rocked up to scuttle the £30million man away from Anfield and down to London where he has been the champions’ player of the season so far.
Fast forward two-and-a-half years and it’s a similar story, but things are a little different. This time Shakhtar’s Brazilian star is Alex Teixeira, and it’s Liverpool trumping Chelsea.
Jurgen Klopp has settled on the free-scoring forward as the man to transform his attacking fortunes with Anfield officials in Orlando – where Shakhtar are holding a training camp – looking to wrap up a deal.
Teixeira is an obvious answer to Klopp’s issues in attack. Fleet-footed, versatile, strong, pacy and - most importantly - a goalscorer.
Things at Shakhtar are unsettled in the 26-year-old’s sixth season in Ukraine. But despite problems including playing a team on tour in Lviv with their Donbass Arena home suffering amid the hostile conditions in Donetsk, Teixeira has shone.
Twenty-six goals in 25 games of the current campaign give the best indication of that. Still uncapped, he is the latest star of Shakhtar’s Brazilian production line and a good fit for Klopp’s brand of football.
That sort of form doesn’t come without confidence. Teixeira has talked up moves to top clubs - particularly Chelsea - throughout this season.
He has an eye on a place in Brazil’s Copa America Centenario squad and a Barclays Premier League switch is a natural one.
Shakhtar top the Ukrainian Premier League, and can count themselves lucky they have had Teixeira in their ranks in the battle at the top with Dynamo Kiev.
He has netted 22 times in the league - in just 15 appearances - and was his side’s stand-out man in a 3-0 win at Dynamo’s Olympic Stadium, scoring twice.
The step-up to Europe’s elite shouldn’t faze the head-strong talent either after netting three times in a Champions League group that included Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
The appearances in the continent’s premier competition also mean he remains eligible for an assault on the Europa League in the second half of the season.
Teixeira's stock is certainly rising, but Liverpool can beat any rivals for his signature - and an increase in price - by sealing a deal this month.
‘Alex is now worth more than €40m (£31m),’ Shakhtar boss Mircea Lucescu said earlier in January. ‘I think at the end of the season, were he to continue with this level of performance – his value will be €50m (£39m).’
So why has such an impressive player stayed in a relative footballing backwater for so long
Shakhtar’s vice-captain has watched countrymen Willian, Douglas Costa, Fernandinho, Elano and Luiz Adriano step off Lucescu’s Brazilian production line and towards greater things in western Europe.
Still, he remains one of eight Brazil boys in the Ukrainian champions’ first-team squad. A new five-year contract was signed in 2013 and only since then has his prolific scoring caught the eye of top scouts.
Teixeira broke the 20-goal mark for the first time last season and has clearly proven it was no fluke with his 26 this campaign. Before then, his tallies were modest: zero, six, 10, 16, nine - not quite the forward threat we see now.
That can partly be put down to playing deeper previously, but also due to an increased maturity since the other stars have departed.
Now, he is Shakhtar’s key man. They value him highly but they can certainly be convinced to part company at the right price. For Klopp, the hope is that Liverpool have that cash at hand.
Fast forward two-and-a-half years and it’s a similar story, but things are a little different. This time Shakhtar’s Brazilian star is Alex Teixeira, and it’s Liverpool trumping Chelsea.
Jurgen Klopp has settled on the free-scoring forward as the man to transform his attacking fortunes with Anfield officials in Orlando – where Shakhtar are holding a training camp – looking to wrap up a deal.
Teixeira is an obvious answer to Klopp’s issues in attack. Fleet-footed, versatile, strong, pacy and - most importantly - a goalscorer.
Things at Shakhtar are unsettled in the 26-year-old’s sixth season in Ukraine. But despite problems including playing a team on tour in Lviv with their Donbass Arena home suffering amid the hostile conditions in Donetsk, Teixeira has shone.
Twenty-six goals in 25 games of the current campaign give the best indication of that. Still uncapped, he is the latest star of Shakhtar’s Brazilian production line and a good fit for Klopp’s brand of football.
That sort of form doesn’t come without confidence. Teixeira has talked up moves to top clubs - particularly Chelsea - throughout this season.
He has an eye on a place in Brazil’s Copa America Centenario squad and a Barclays Premier League switch is a natural one.
Shakhtar top the Ukrainian Premier League, and can count themselves lucky they have had Teixeira in their ranks in the battle at the top with Dynamo Kiev.
He has netted 22 times in the league - in just 15 appearances - and was his side’s stand-out man in a 3-0 win at Dynamo’s Olympic Stadium, scoring twice.
The step-up to Europe’s elite shouldn’t faze the head-strong talent either after netting three times in a Champions League group that included Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
The appearances in the continent’s premier competition also mean he remains eligible for an assault on the Europa League in the second half of the season.
Teixeira's stock is certainly rising, but Liverpool can beat any rivals for his signature - and an increase in price - by sealing a deal this month.
‘Alex is now worth more than €40m (£31m),’ Shakhtar boss Mircea Lucescu said earlier in January. ‘I think at the end of the season, were he to continue with this level of performance – his value will be €50m (£39m).’
So why has such an impressive player stayed in a relative footballing backwater for so long
Shakhtar’s vice-captain has watched countrymen Willian, Douglas Costa, Fernandinho, Elano and Luiz Adriano step off Lucescu’s Brazilian production line and towards greater things in western Europe.
Still, he remains one of eight Brazil boys in the Ukrainian champions’ first-team squad. A new five-year contract was signed in 2013 and only since then has his prolific scoring caught the eye of top scouts.
Teixeira broke the 20-goal mark for the first time last season and has clearly proven it was no fluke with his 26 this campaign. Before then, his tallies were modest: zero, six, 10, 16, nine - not quite the forward threat we see now.
That can partly be put down to playing deeper previously, but also due to an increased maturity since the other stars have departed.
Now, he is Shakhtar’s key man. They value him highly but they can certainly be convinced to part company at the right price. For Klopp, the hope is that Liverpool have that cash at hand.
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