Liverpool fans are no stranger to transfer sagas, but today we're going back in time to 2016. Jurgen Klopp was still the new manager for Liverpool F.C., and the winter window was open. Here brought about Jurgen's first and one of the most influential sagas of his time so far here. This is the story of Alex Teixeira.
The Saga:
Liverpool had an injury dilemma on their hands. Danny Ings, Divock Origi, and Daniel Sturridge had all been ruled out at one point or another. With a Europa League run incoming, fans felt that reinforcements were needed and/or on the way. Klopp had made two minor moves: signing Steven Caulker on loan from Southampton and Marko Grujic from Red Star Belgrade, before immediately loaning him back out, but there was yet to be a splash by him. That splash looked like it could come from a Brazilian.
Alex Teixeira was 26 at the time and a hot target for other teams, including Chelsea, on the market according to rumors. He was playing for Shakhtar Donetsk and doing well, he'd scored 22 goals in 15 league games in the Ukrainian top-flight league along with four goals in ten Champions League appearances. He, however, seemed to be unsettled playing in Ukraine and at times seemed desperate for someone to sign him. He said it would be an "honor" to put on the red of Liverpool. Sky Sports claimed Lucas Leiva and Phil Coutinho were two of his best friends in world football. It was finally soon reported that Liverpool had made the offer: £25 million for him.
There was a massive problem: Shakhtar did not want to sell for what they deemed to be peanuts. Shakhtar, over time, refused to budge. Ian Ayre flew out to the Shakhtar winter camp in Florida to negotiate and Klopp put on record that bids were made, but Ayre flew back to Liverpool on his own and The Telegraph reported that Liverpool would not move past £30 million. Just a week later, Teixeira found a move, £38 million from Jiangsu Suning in China. This seemed to highlight for some just how willing Teixeira was to find a move out of the situation in Ukraine, and how Shakhtar wanted a partner who would compensate them heavily.
Of course, this piece is not just out to highlight how Liverpool refused to pony up the cash and buy their man. Paying a surplus of £30 million for an uncapped Brazilian whose highest level of play was in a rather weak Ukrainian Premier League was a gamble. Especially with a serious lack of wing depth, defense trouble still prevalent, and another goalie desperately needed, another attacking mid-fielder seemed to be an unnecessary and costly move. Teixeira had proven himself in some Champions League matches, but how would he fair in a full-season in the English Premier League? That was a valid question, yet one of my personal favorite (or least-favorite, depending on your point of view) hypothetical questions in the Klopp era of Liverpool is 'Would Liverpool have won the Europa League if Alex Teixeira were signed?"
To answer my own hypothetical, I think it's very hard to make the case that Liverpool would have beaten Sevilla if Teixeira were signed, let alone even perhaps not making it as far. Origi and Sturridge both returned and finished the season in outstanding form. Attacking was not the problem. A shambolic defensive second half in Basel was the key issue for Liverpool. If this had been a center-back, or a left-back, potentially signed and the what if question centered around that, then sure I think you can argue that Liverpool may have won the final. But making the case for Teixeira impacting that run even more so for the better is a bit more difficult.
Why So Important:
This deal was massive, both at the time, in the near future, and in current-day. At the time, it signaled the unwillingness for Klopp and Liverpool to succumb to pressure and make a move they did not feel comfortable in making. That summer Klopp would spend more than £30 million on Sadio Mane, a move he felt comfortable in making and one that paid off. This has continued on to present day. Of course Klopp spent serious money on Virgil van Dijk, but his was a move he was patient on and formulated over two transfer windows. Compare that with the Teixeira saga that started in around mid-January and by February 5, he was off to China. This had developed frenetically over the course of the month. It was almost everything you would not expect from a Liverpool transfer.
Teixeira is back in the news as it seems to be that Jiangsu is looked to sell him in the summer as he is reported to be on the transfer list. The once former Chinese Super League biggest signing of all-time did not set the league on fire, but he has been solid and contributed well to his team's efforts throughout the course of the season. Regardless, the saga of Alex Teixeira is one that I and many fans look back upon as the first look into transfer life under Klopp.
Follow me on Twitter @RMABTweets, I Tweet things about Liverpool and Michigan basketball there and I always post articles once they are posted here so you won't miss a thing.
The Saga:
Liverpool had an injury dilemma on their hands. Danny Ings, Divock Origi, and Daniel Sturridge had all been ruled out at one point or another. With a Europa League run incoming, fans felt that reinforcements were needed and/or on the way. Klopp had made two minor moves: signing Steven Caulker on loan from Southampton and Marko Grujic from Red Star Belgrade, before immediately loaning him back out, but there was yet to be a splash by him. That splash looked like it could come from a Brazilian.
Alex Teixeira was 26 at the time and a hot target for other teams, including Chelsea, on the market according to rumors. He was playing for Shakhtar Donetsk and doing well, he'd scored 22 goals in 15 league games in the Ukrainian top-flight league along with four goals in ten Champions League appearances. He, however, seemed to be unsettled playing in Ukraine and at times seemed desperate for someone to sign him. He said it would be an "honor" to put on the red of Liverpool. Sky Sports claimed Lucas Leiva and Phil Coutinho were two of his best friends in world football. It was finally soon reported that Liverpool had made the offer: £25 million for him.
There was a massive problem: Shakhtar did not want to sell for what they deemed to be peanuts. Shakhtar, over time, refused to budge. Ian Ayre flew out to the Shakhtar winter camp in Florida to negotiate and Klopp put on record that bids were made, but Ayre flew back to Liverpool on his own and The Telegraph reported that Liverpool would not move past £30 million. Just a week later, Teixeira found a move, £38 million from Jiangsu Suning in China. This seemed to highlight for some just how willing Teixeira was to find a move out of the situation in Ukraine, and how Shakhtar wanted a partner who would compensate them heavily.
Of course, this piece is not just out to highlight how Liverpool refused to pony up the cash and buy their man. Paying a surplus of £30 million for an uncapped Brazilian whose highest level of play was in a rather weak Ukrainian Premier League was a gamble. Especially with a serious lack of wing depth, defense trouble still prevalent, and another goalie desperately needed, another attacking mid-fielder seemed to be an unnecessary and costly move. Teixeira had proven himself in some Champions League matches, but how would he fair in a full-season in the English Premier League? That was a valid question, yet one of my personal favorite (or least-favorite, depending on your point of view) hypothetical questions in the Klopp era of Liverpool is 'Would Liverpool have won the Europa League if Alex Teixeira were signed?"
To answer my own hypothetical, I think it's very hard to make the case that Liverpool would have beaten Sevilla if Teixeira were signed, let alone even perhaps not making it as far. Origi and Sturridge both returned and finished the season in outstanding form. Attacking was not the problem. A shambolic defensive second half in Basel was the key issue for Liverpool. If this had been a center-back, or a left-back, potentially signed and the what if question centered around that, then sure I think you can argue that Liverpool may have won the final. But making the case for Teixeira impacting that run even more so for the better is a bit more difficult.
Why So Important:
This deal was massive, both at the time, in the near future, and in current-day. At the time, it signaled the unwillingness for Klopp and Liverpool to succumb to pressure and make a move they did not feel comfortable in making. That summer Klopp would spend more than £30 million on Sadio Mane, a move he felt comfortable in making and one that paid off. This has continued on to present day. Of course Klopp spent serious money on Virgil van Dijk, but his was a move he was patient on and formulated over two transfer windows. Compare that with the Teixeira saga that started in around mid-January and by February 5, he was off to China. This had developed frenetically over the course of the month. It was almost everything you would not expect from a Liverpool transfer.
Teixeira is back in the news as it seems to be that Jiangsu is looked to sell him in the summer as he is reported to be on the transfer list. The once former Chinese Super League biggest signing of all-time did not set the league on fire, but he has been solid and contributed well to his team's efforts throughout the course of the season. Regardless, the saga of Alex Teixeira is one that I and many fans look back upon as the first look into transfer life under Klopp.
Follow me on Twitter @RMABTweets, I Tweet things about Liverpool and Michigan basketball there and I always post articles once they are posted here so you won't miss a thing.
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