The 5 alternatives Liverpool could go for if latest transfer fails

Liverpool’s January-long pursuit of Alex Teixeira looks to have hit a stumbling block so heavily that it has collapsed entirely.

Shakhtar Donestk our unwilling to let their star man go unless the Reds can match his £53.4m release clause and this is a heavy price for someone who has never played in a top European league.

The Brazilian attacking-midfielder has found the net 25 times across all competitions this season, but investing so heavily would be a massive risk.

Here are five alternatives Jurgen Klopp should look at:

Saido Berahino

The West Brom man has been a transfer target for many Premier League clubs, but few are willing to spare with the £20m plus the Baggies want for him.

Liverpool should take the plunge before anyone else does and bring in a 22-year old striker who scored 14 top-flight goals last season.

Jackson Martinez

The Colombian forward got his name on the scoresheet 67 times in 88 league starts at FC Porto, but a summer move to Atletico Madrid has seen him score only twice in 15 La Liga appearances.

Klopp should free Martinez from his Madrid nightmare and help him recapture the form that saw him become a star in Portugal.

Mario Gotze

The German World Cup winner is believed to be a summer target for the Reds, but with the move for Teixeira looking dead they should advance proceedings.

Gotze has worked with the current Liverpool boss before and credits him for his career meaning this move could be a match made in heaven, or more precisely Dortmund.

Isco

Real Madrid have a wealth of talented players meaning the Spanish international often gets ignored and has to settle for action from the bench.

Isco would be a star in the Premier League if given game time and any team that decided to splash the cash on him would be getting a quality player.

Leandro Paredes

Empoli have been the surprise package of Serie A this season and are currently eighth, with the on-loan Roma midfielder a big part of this.

Klopp is said to be a fan of the 21-year-old and bringing him in now would be a wise move as interest is likely to increase as the season progresses.

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