Liverpool target Teixeira compared to Di Maria

Sarah Winterburn

Liverpool target Alex Teixeira can be better than Angel Di Maria, claims his Shakhtar Donetsk manager Mircea Lucescu.

The Ukrainian club value the 26-year-old Brazilian – who has scored 22 goals in 15 league games this season – at £38m, with the Reds reportedly falling way short with a £28m bid.

“He’s worth €50m,” Lucescu told FourFourTwo. “He’s incredible, very fast, very good technique. I compare him with other players of the same age who changed [the fortunes of] a club, Di Maria for example at Paris Saint Germain.

“Teixeira can be at the same level, better even. He doesn’t get injured, and every year he gets better and better.

“Our president knows when it is the time for Teixeira to go.

“I don’t want to keep a player against his desire. He wants to play in a big championship.”