Nine Players Linked With A Move To The Chinese Super League – Featuring Manchester United And Chelsea Superstars

Over the last two years, Chinese Super League has emerged as a surprise destination for footballers across the world. While some players move to the Asian giants to see out their careers, more and more professionals are being swayed by the huge wages on offer.

Last season saw plenty of big names move to The Red Dragon with the likes of Jackson Martinez, Hulk, Ramires and Alex Teixeira joining various Super League sides. We also witnessed Graziano Pelle make the move across the continent in the summer of 2016 and most recently 25-year old Chelsea playmaker Oscar joined Shanghai SIPG for a fee of £61 million, before former Manchester United and Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez completed a transfer to Shanghai Shenhua for a fee reported to be £71.2 million that will see him earn a stupefying £615,000 per week, making him the highest paid footballer in the world.

An insider from the Chinese Super League told SunSport recently:

“There is a bottomless pit of money here and we can afford anyone in the world — and I mean anyone,” issuing somewhat of a warning to Premier League clubs that there are new financial superpowers in play.

This came just a few days after super-agent Jorge Mendes revealed Cristiano Ronaldo was the subject of a huge bid from an unnamed Super League club. However, the Real Madrid star rejected the transfer, it may not be the case in the future, with the source claiming to SunSport that the Chinese clubs possess the clout to sign the biggest of the players. SunSport quoted the source saying:

“Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Gareth Bale, Harry Kane — we have the money, we have the facilities, we can offer an incredible lifestyle and most definitely have the ambition.”

With the transfers to China causing a furore in recent times, we take a look at nine of the biggest stars who have been linked with a move to the Super League:

John Terry

The Chelsea legend has struggled for game time this term under new manager Antonio Conte with the Italian preferring to play the trio of Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz and Gary Cahill at the back. With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, a move to China might turn out be a rather profitable option for Terry with Shanghai Shenhua expressing interest in December.

Alexis Sanchez

Sanchez, who has hit peak form for the Gunners this term, has been locked in contract negotiations with the club but the talks haven’t progressed with the Chilean holding out for wages close to £250,000. And reports emerged recently claiming an unnamed Chinese side had offered the 28-year old a pay packet of £400,000 per week. Getting a player of the calibre of Sanchez, who is in his prime, could well prove to be quite a coup for the Chinese League.

Wayne Rooney

The Manchester United and England captain rejected a move to Beijing Guoan over the summer and is solely focused on the Red Devils as he hopes to become the leading goalscorer for the club. However, the reduced involvement this term, may turn his head towards China in the summer and United may also look to offload their highest earner to free up space for summer target Antoine Griezmann.

Pepe

The Real Madrid defender, who is out of contract at the end of season, has reportedly received two offers from the Chinese Super League and Pepe is mulling over the decision, especially with reported interest from former manager and compatriot Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United. The 33-year old is inclining towards a move to the far east, but that would depend on whether his move might hamper his chances to feature in 2018 FIFA World Cup for Portugal.

Cesc Fabregas

Another Chelsea player who has been linked with a move to China, as a result of reduced playing time this term under new boss Antonio Conte, Fabregas has been offered a way out with Guangzhou Evergrande reportedly tabling a £40 million offer for the Spaniard. Having played second fiddle to the duo of N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic through the course of the season, Fabregas has put in some good displays in recent weeks and with Oscar leaving Stamford Bridge, Conte might be tempted to hold onto the former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder.

Christian Benteke

The Crystal Palace striker was subject of a £40 million bid as reported yesterday from Beijing Guoan but Benteke, who is enjoying a good season with the Eagles, having scored 8 times in the league already, after a poor last year with Liverpool, may look to reject the move in favour of a stay in London.

Diego Costa

The Chelsea main man is a subject of interest for Tianjin Quanjian who are reportedly willing to make an offer in the range of £80 million. However, with Chelsea well on their way to the Premier League title with Costa in sublime form, a move is highly unlikely to materialise. And recently the Spaniard came out and quashed the speculations of the transfer, claiming he is content where he is.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portuguese star, was a subject of a jaw-dropping £260 million bid from an undisclosed Chinese club, who were willing to offer him a wage packet of a whopping £1.6 million per week, as revealed by his agent Jorge Mendes. Those are certainly mind-boggling figures and can turn the heads of many a player. However, Ronaldo declined the move in favour of a stay in Spain, but interest from the far east will continue to rise for the former Manchester United winger.

Zlatan Ibrahimović

Superstar Zlatan Ibrahimović received a £120 million offer last month, to move to the Chinese Super League when the current campaign ends, but the Swede, who joined Manchester United for free earlier in the summer, is intent on staying with the Red Devils for another season. The former PSG hitman has been in stellar form for the Mancunians having already scored 18 times this term and is proving that at the age of 35, he has still got it.