Alex Teixeira to Chelsea. There's no surer thing ahead of the January market.
His agent admits there's been contact with the Blues. Mircea Lucescu, his coach at Shakhtar Donetsk, says Jose Mourinho has been asking after him. And Alex, himself, insists that not only is it time to leave Ukraine, but he wants a move to Stamford Bridge.
"They (Shakhtar) know my desire is to now leave," says Alex. "I think if we were to negotiate a transfer it would be good for Shakhtar."
And Chelsea?
"I am very happy knowing that a club like Chelsea are interested in me. It is important to compete in a competition like the Premier League. If it were to happen in January, this would be excellent. For my part it would be great to face a new challenge."
Mourinho and Chelsea need goals if they're to rescue this season - and no-one in Europe can match the prolific form of Alex. A stunning 25 goals from 23 games has the Brazilian in contention for the European Golden Boot. And making it all the more remarkable is he's achieved this playing in Lucescu's midfield.
"I think the key is the coach is giving me complete freedom to play this role, to always get in the area. Over the last two years I've started to have this opportunity, I'm managing to score more goals, also my teammates are finding me more with good passes."
It's been five years since Alex arrived at Shakhtar from Vasco da Gama and in all that time he's only known the one coach - Lucescu.
"Alex is growing, every year he's played better and better, he's become a stronger personality, he's felt confident and is now scoring with flair," says the Shakhtar boss, now in his eleventh year with the club.
"Earlier, he'd scored three or four goals in a season, but now he has become a strong player with good dribbling, speed and goal sense."
Lucescu admits Shakhtar could've lost Alex over the summer when Juventus made a serious pitch for his services. But after seeing Luiz Adriano leave for AC Milan and Douglas Costa for Bayern Munich, the Romanian was able to convince Alex to delay his own departure plans after a heart-to-heart.
"I am glad that he decided to stay with us, to pursue a career with the 'Miners', I'm not sure we'll ever develop another player like him," added Lucescu, who was happy to make the 25 year-old vice-captain this season.
"Luiz Adriano (the last vice-captain) was a successful player who played many years for Shakhtar and scored many goals. Before him, Fernandinho (Manchester City) captained us and the first of all was Matuzalem. Now the responsibility will pass to Alex Teixeira, who is not only a leader of the Brazilian players, but also a technical leader."
Alex admits he easily could've followed his two fellow Brazilians out of Donetsk in August, but a sense of loyalty to Lucescu and Shakhtar dissuaded him.
"When Douglas (Costa) and Luiz (Adriano) left last season, the coach asked me to stay. I obeyed and stayed.
"The president told me there had been offers, but he would not sell me because of these other two negotiations."
Alex adds: "Luiz was a great leader. If you had a problem, you could go to him and he'd solve it. Now the title has passed to me."
And Alex has embraced the challenge, driving a free-scoring Shakhtar to the top of the table in Ukraine, with the club boasting 16 more goals than their nearest challenger, Dynamo Kiev.
Ukraine legend Viktor Leonenko feels local fans are witnessing something special.
"If Alex was playing for Barcelona, he would be doing even better," says Leonenko, "he'd enhance a team like Real Madrid or PSG. He'll go for at least €30 million." But while success and popularity has come easily this season, there is a frustration. Alex is still to earn a first senior cap.
And it's not like he's been off the radar of the Brazilian Federation. After playing for his country at both the U17 and U20 World Cups, Alex looked a natural to progress to the senior national team. But it still hasn't happened for the midfielder.
"I read many reviews, I feel that there is a prejudice against the (Ukrainian) league. Not many watch the championship in Brazil or in Europe. Only games of the Champions League are televised. When they hear I am scoring many goals (in Ukraine) they say, 'ah, but then it's easy to play there'. It's not like that.
"Anyone who watches knows there are difficult games and the level is not as weak as they say."
Which is perhaps why Alex feels now is the time to make the move to a more popular league. And you don't get anything more popular in football than the Premier League.
"The Premier League? It's my dream," Alex confesses.
After five years in Ukraine, Alex feels he's paid his dues. He's ready for the next step - and isn't afraid to declare his ambitions.
"I want to play for Mourinho - the best coach in the world. I would learn a lot from him.
"I do not know whether Mourinho is planning to buy me, but I've heard that he is watching my games."
Source: tribalfootball.com