Alex Teixeira

[Irishnev]

if we wait until the summer there's probably going to be a massive signing on fee too plus I'd expect wages to also be higher (given there'd be no fee involved)

If we believe what has been said about him the then have agreed terms which would be the same wages now as in the summer surely. Added to that he'll be getting a slice of the transfer fee anyway which may off set some of the signing on fee.

The point I am trying to make is Matip will improve our defence but the thing is in this league you move up the table with goals and we could get them NOW.

[Lecter]

I just read an excellent point by someone on Twitter - why pay £6m for Matip now (+ wages) when he could be got for free in the summer and we could use the extra money to pay for Teixeira.

Why indeed

[Irishnev]

We'll not be able to give Balotelli away this summer

Balotelli would be perfect for the Chinese league - if he didn't have such an ego we'd make massive money for him.

[danperkins]

He can cover both CBs and DM (lets face it the squad is injury prone this season) and he can be integrated into the team now, this summer is going to be a messy one - Euros, Copa, Olympics and the USA tour for Liverpool. If you can get a player in now its worth doing so I think.

Much prefer playing Matip at DM rather than CB, been a liability at CB every time i've seen him. So it might be good idea to pay the Tex money & get him in now when he can effect our season. Maybe come the summer we might be a great position to sign better than Matip... maybe.

[Irishnev]

Much prefer playing Matip at DM rather than CB, been a liability at CB every time i've seen him. So it might be good idea to pay the Tex money & get him in now when he can effect our season. Maybe come the summer we might be a great position to sign better than Matip... maybe.

Isn't he supposed to be in the Bundesliga "half term" team of the season as a CB? Must be doing something right this year.

I'm with you on Tex though - he can come in and do something now!

[danperkins]

Not sure mate. When he got into the Schalke first initially about 5 or 6 years ago he was played as DM and then switched around the place a lot, took awhile before he became a main stay at CB. He's quick and a beast in the air.. which is fantastic but every time i've seen him for club and country (not much), he seems a bit rash & i've seen him do some stupid ****. Schalke have never really been the greatest defensively. Will be a test for him coming into the fast tempo of the premier league.

In saying that, because he is so versatile it does make him a very enticing prospect. He can play all across the backline and in DM... which is great to have at your disposal. And again, he really is an absolute beast in the air. For free it's a no brainer, whether he's the answer to our defensive woes.. remains to be seen. Hard to find a good CB these days.

Maybe some of the lads the watch German football a bit more than me might have a better insight into him. I'd be lucky to see see Schalke play 5 or 6 times per season to be honest, but i've seen enough of him to form a mild view of him.

[Irishnev]

Schalke have never really been the greatest defensively.

Hard to find a good CB these days.

Howedes has always looked solid to me but that has been for the national team and they tend to have played him as a LB.

Re good centre backs - I would have always said to go South American and preferably Uruguayan or Argentinian. Traditionally they have produced the nastiest and toughest CBs.

I grew up on the old Italian football when Montero used to cut opposition CFs in half + he could play a bit - Godin & now Gimenez at Atletico look the part at different stages of their careers. Re the Argies - Samuel, Ayala, Almeyda, Sensini were all excellent but they aren't producing much recently - Otamendi, Rojo & Garay not at that level. When we went South American we ended up with Paletta (too young), Pelligrini (too old) & Coates (too stoned) so we've been burnt there.

The best prospects now are Sule, Laporte, Mammana, Balanta, Rugani & Romagnoli but I have really high hopes for Gomez and he could solve our RCB position for the next 10 years +.

[Tribute]

if we wait until the summer there's probably going to be a massive signing on fee too plus I'd expect wages to also be higher (given there'd be no fee involved)

and undoubtedly other teams in the mix for him who would be willing to offer higher wages, signing on fees, etc...

I'd rather bag Matip now if we can, we certainly need defensive reinforcements now - and if Tex comes, he may score a few goals, which would be great - but I doubt he can defend corners and set pieces at the same time. Ideally, we need both. And we need them now.

[Chris]

Isn't he supposed to be in the Bundesliga "half term" team of the season as a CB? Must be doing something right this year.

Schalke fans love him aswell, someone with this reputation with his own (extremely demanding) fans and media must be playing ok! :

"Is simply too good for us."

"Can like to switch to a top club, it would not blame him."

"Joel is imho switch to a club with which he can win titles, at best the CL.
If it changes, then a real top club: Barca, Real, ManUtd, Manchester City, Chelsea (yes, this season is not), Arsenal, PSG. He has what it takes."

"Matip has become so good that he easily plays on NP Club of permanent CL can hire"

"Matip would a huge loss, because "obtain replacement" is likely to be for us almost impossible, not if you want the same quality"

"And that's what bothers me. Matip plays at Bayern München level and leaves us 2 years remaining contract is still at least a transfer fee of 20 million +"

" I have always said that it is the player with the most talent in the squad."
"Would suit as appropriate strong and fast defender perfectly into Pep system."

"Matip and Boateng would actually be a perfect IV. both large two- and kopfballstark, quickly and both can build a game. Of course I would also throw up then."

"Vincent Kompany is not getting any younger and Pep will certainly be questioned about possible reinforcements from the Bundesliga. And since he can not take Boateng, Martinez or Alaba, Joel can be quite interesting"

http://www.schalker-block5.de/index.php?thread/39295-joel-matip-soll-vertrag-auf-schalke-verl%C3%A4ngern/&pageNo=118

[Irishnev]

and undoubtedly other teams in the mix for him who would be willing to offer higher wages, signing on fees, etc...

I'd rather bag Matip now if we can, we certainly need defensive reinforcements now - and if Tex comes, he may score a few goals, which would be great - but I doubt he can defend corners and set pieces at the same time. Ideally, we need both. And we need them now.

We should buy them both

[Chris]

http://www.anfieldhq.com/anfield-hq-world-exclusive-alex-teixera-interview/

Anfield HQ & NBC reporter Stefano Fusaro speaks to Liverpool target Alex Teixeira ahead of a potential move from Shakhtar Donetsk to Anfield.

The 26-year-old has been long linked with Liverpool, and told Anfield HQ he is ready to leave.

“The team received one official offer from Liverpool. It was rejected, I don’t know why.

“It was a great offer, it is frustrating but the manager and the club president decided against it.”

“I am just waiting, trying to be patient.”

Teixeira has revealed a move to Anfield is something he would consider an ‘honour’ and that despite reports Liverpool have only made one bid to sign the Brazilian, which was rejected by Shakhtar. However, he told us his representatives are doing everything they can to push through a move.

“Yes, it is a huge club. So many great players have passed through there.

“It would be an honour to defend the Liverpool shirt.

“There has only been one offer, 32million Euros, and Shakhtar rejected it.

“I know my agent is still attempting everything possible to help get me to Liverpool.”

Fellow Brazilians Lucas Leiva, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino are well known to Teixeira, and admits his style of play would benefit Liverpool, who have struggled for goal-scoring consistency all season.

“I have played with Coutinho since we were 10 years old. It would be a lot of fun to play with him again.

“The way I play I am always looking to score. I could definitely add an attacking threat, especially if I am paired with all of the attacking talented players they already have on the squad.”

The Ukrainian-based star has told Shakhtar Donetsk he wants a January move to Merseyside, and believes playing in England will improve his chances of playing for Brazil.

“Every time I am asked that question (where I want to go) I always say the English Premier League.”

“For me, it’s the best league in the world. I believe in myself, and I feel that would be the best move for my career.

“I have reached an age, 26 years old, in which I’m really looking to break into the Brazil team.

“2018 may be the last World Cup I have a chance to play in, so I want to go to a big club and show what I can do at the highest level. Hopefully then I will be selected for Brazil.”

Finally, we asked Teixeira if he would be at Liverpool come Monday’s 11pm deadline….

“I don’t know, it’s tough to answer that.

“I want to be there.

“It is up to the club president now, I can only hope. I don’t know what else to say.”

[powerpack]

http://www.anfieldhq.com/anfield-hq-...era-interview/

Anfield HQ & NBC reporter Stefano Fusaro speaks to Liverpool target Alex Teixeira ahead of a potential move from Shakhtar Donetsk to Anfield.

The 26-year-old has been long linked with Liverpool, and told Anfield HQ he is ready to leave.

“The team received one official offer from Liverpool. It was rejected, I don’t know why.

“It was a great offer, it is frustrating but the manager and the club president decided against it.”

“I am just waiting, trying to be patient.”

Teixeira has revealed a move to Anfield is something he would consider an ‘honour’ and that despite reports Liverpool have only made one bid to sign the Brazilian, which was rejected by Shakhtar. However, he told us his representatives are doing everything they can to push through a move.

“Yes, it is a huge club. So many great players have passed through there.

“It would be an honour to defend the Liverpool shirt.

“There has only been one offer, 32million Euros, and Shakhtar rejected it.

“I know my agent is still attempting everything possible to help get me to Liverpool.”

Fellow Brazilians Lucas Leiva, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino are well known to Teixeira, and admits his style of play would benefit Liverpool, who have struggled for goal-scoring consistency all season.

“I have played with Coutinho since we were 10 years old. It would be a lot of fun to play with him again.

“The way I play I am always looking to score. I could definitely add an attacking threat, especially if I am paired with all of the attacking talented players they already have on the squad.”

The Ukrainian-based star has told Shakhtar Donetsk he wants a January move to Merseyside, and believes playing in England will improve his chances of playing for Brazil.

“Every time I am asked that question (where I want to go) I always say the English Premier League.”

“For me, it’s the best league in the world. I believe in myself, and I feel that would be the best move for my career.

“I have reached an age, 26 years old, in which I’m really looking to break into the Brazil team.

“2018 may be the last World Cup I have a chance to play in, so I want to go to a big club and show what I can do at the highest level. Hopefully then I will be selected for Brazil.”

Finally, we asked Teixeira if he would be at Liverpool come Monday’s 11pm deadline….

“I don’t know, it’s tough to answer that.

“I want to be there.

“It is up to the club president now, I can only hope. I don’t know what else to say.”

Here is the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2PivFLsNJ4&feature=youtu.be

[Irishnev]

Video already posted

[Chris]

Here is the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2Pi...ature=youtu.be

He'd defo add to the good looking quota!

[redmike65]

He needs to go on strike! (actually I don't approve of that but needs must)