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Chelsea’s Brazilian midfielder Oscar has been the subject of a reported £75 million bid from China Super League outfit Jiangsu Suning. Photo: AFP

China Super League outfit Jiangsu Suning have £57 million Oscar bid rejected by Chelsea; Alex Teixeira on his way

Mainland club flex financial muscle by targeting elite European players

China’s stunning impact in the winter transfer window continued as Jiangsu Suning had a massive bid for Chelsea’s Oscar rejected, according to reports in England, and broke the Asian transfer record again with a 50 million (HK$436.6 million) deal for Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira.

Teixeira had seemed set to join English Premier League outfit Liverpool in January before the Reds balked at the Ukrainian side’s asking price.

Ever more remarkably, according to The Sun and the Daily Telegraph, Jiangsu launched an audacious bid to prise midfielder Oscar from Chelsea – for anywhere between £57m and £75m depending on which report you believe.
Chelsea are reported to have rejected the eye-watering bid from Jiangsu Suning for their midfielder Oscar. Photo: AP

Jiangsu have already bought Ramires from Chelsea this winter, but while he was seen as surplus to requirements, his fellow Brazilian midfielder is an integral part of the team.

Even so, if the £75m reported by the Telegraph is accurate, it will have taken a force of will from Chelsea to reject it.

READ MORE: How Alibaba aims to transform China’s sports market – and help bring the World Cup to the country

That fee would have been the second highest fee paid to a British club after Gareth Bale’s £86m move from Tottenham to Real Madrid.

The Sun claims Jiangsu’s offer for the 24-year-old was ‘only’ £57.5m – still three times what Chelsea paid Brazilian club International for him in 2012.

Meanwhile, if Teixeira’s move is completed, it will be another new Asian record – just a few days after Guangzhou Evergrande broke it with a 42m move for Jackson Martinez.
Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira had been coveted by a host of top European clubs but now looks set to play in China this year. Photo: Vlad1988/Shutterstock.com

“We have agreed to sell Alex Teixeira to China,” Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu was quoted as saying by ESPN Brazil.

“We will wait a little to finalise it due to what happened with Luiz Adriano.

“But it’s all confirmed on our side.”

Shakhtar said in a statement: “Shakhtar Donetsk and Jiangsu Suning FC have agreed on all the necessary formalities for the transfer of Alex Teixeira to the Chinese club. Transfer fee for the Brazilian midfielder is 50 million euros. Shakhtar thank Alex for the time spent in the team and wish him success at his new club.

READ MORE: Guangzhou Evergrande smash Asian transfer record with 42 million euro Jackson Martinez deal

AC Milan striker Adriano had been set to join Jiangsu before the move collapsed after a row over salary.

Teixeira had also been linked with Chelsea and Juventus this winter, signalling that China’s cash is allowing them to compete – and outbid – some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Teixeira has had an impressive season and seemed set for a move to the Premier League with Liverpool during the European January transfer window. Photo: Vlad1988/Shutterstock.com

Teams are spending big seemingly in an effort to boost the game and curry favour with president Xi Jinping, who has declared that football in China must improve.

READ MORE: As China looks to upset football’s world order, January transfer splurge could be just the start

Jiangsu are reportedly set to move for Manchester City’s Yaya Toure at the end of the English season, with wages of £30m a year – tax free – being quoted.

And the Telegraph claims that although Chelsea don’t want to lose Oscar midway through the season, Jiangsu may come calling again at the end of the campaign.

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