South China have agreed to shock requests from Brazilian central defender Aurelio da Silva and Scottish striker Lee Bullen to leave Hong Kong's leading club.
The two players have been offered lucrative deals to play in Europe and requested early releases from their contracts.
The duo will remain with the Caroliners until the currently struggling side bring in two Swedish replacements.
The new recruits are expected here before the end of the month and, hopefully, before South China's Asian Clubs' Championship game with Chinese side Dalian.
Manager Peter Leung said yesterday: 'This has come entirely from the two players. They approached me and asked if South China would let them out of the contracts so that they could sign for a club in Greece.
'They told me the offer was very good and I have talked it over with our officials and we will not stand in their way.' Bullen, when asked to about the impending move yesterday, refused to comment.
South China's decision was strongly influenced by the form shown in training and friendly matches by Swedish recruits Joakim Grandelius and Thomas Walfridsson who will make their first appearances for the club in the crunch Senior Shield game with Happy Valley at the Hong Kong Stadium tomorrow night.
