Alex Teixeira has told Shakhtar Donetsk that he would like to leave the club in January. Liverpool made a £24.6m bid for the 26-year-old last week and are ready to improve that offer while Chelsea have also been linked with the Brazilian.

Teixeira, who is currently with Shakhtar at their training camp in Florida, told the Brazilian newspaper Globo: “I would like to move in this transfer window and have told them [Shakhtar] that. They have received a very good offer and they are working on a solution. But if I don’t go now then I will leave in the summer.

“After six years in Europe and with Shakhtar we are ready to move and I have spoken to my wife and daughter.”

The forward has scored 22 goals for Shakhtar in 15 league games so far this season and the Ukrainian club are keen to keep him until at least this summer. They value the 26-year-old at £38m and will not let him go unless a club make a bid in that region.

Teixeira added: “It is my desire to move to a big league and I know that the English league is very strong. I am ready and I know that I will grow up a lot there. I am aware that two big clubs such as Liverpool and Chelsea are interested but I haven’t given my word to either of them.

“I am not ruling out other leagues but I do want to play in the Premier League. In my mind, it is the strongest in the world. I want a challenge and to further my career there. My aim is to move to a big club so that I can well there and get a place in the Brazil squad. Everyone knows that it is hard to achieve and I need to leave here to achieve that goal.”