Friday 5 February 2016 10:09, UK
Liverpool target Alex Teixeira has signed for Chinese club Jiangsu Suning in a deal worth £38m, Shakhtar Donetsk have confirmed.
In another audacious move by a club in the Chinese Super League, who have recently attracted Chelsea's Ramires and Atletico Madrid striker Jackson Martinez, Teixeira has agreed to move to the Far East.
Sky sources understand he will be paid around £185,000 a week after tax, which equates to £9.6m over his four-year contract.
A statement by Shakhtar said: "Shakhtar thank Alex for the time spent in the team and wish him success at his new club."
Liverpool had undertaken lengthy negotiations during the winter transfer window in order to bring the 26-year-old Brazilian attacker to Anfield, but they failed to agree a fee with Shakhtar, who quoted £35m.
Teixeira spoke publicly on the matter at the Ukrainian club's winter training camp in the USA last week, admitting he wanted to join the Merseyside club, and Sky sources understand that Liverpool were intent on returning for him in the summer.
But Jurgen Klopp's side now have no chance of signing Teixeira, who will join Jiangsu Suning ready for the new Chinese Super League season, which begins in March.
China's clubs have embarked on somewhat of a global shopping spree, having reportedly seen major investment from domestic businesses and entrepreneurs in their clubs, encouraged by the Chinese state.
Teixeira joins compatriot Ramires, who signed for Jiangsu for £25m last month, and former Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu, who manages the club.
Atletico Madrid wanted £32m for Martinez - one of the hottest strikers in Europe - but only Guangzhou Evergrande, who have already signed Brazilians Paulinho and Alan Carvalho, could stump up the cash.
And their names are added to a list of players that includes former Arsenal man Gervinho, who signed for Hebei China Fortune from Roma for £13.8m, and Colombian international Fredy Guarin, who moved from Inter Milan to Shanghai Shenhua for £10m.
