Hong Kong star Ricky Cheng Siu-chung may become the second local Chinese player to play professionally in England.
Cheng, 25, has had preliminary contact with Premier League side West Ham United through the agent of his Instant-Dict teammate Ian Baird. He will travel to Upton Park for a one-month trial in July.
'I am awaiting an official reply from West Ham. Hopefully I will hear from them before I return to Costa Rica for a holiday on Sunday night,' said the Instant-Dict left-winger.
'It's time for a change. My physical fitness and speed have dropped since I came back to Hong Kong in December, 1993 because the standard of soccer here is not competitive enough.
'I hope I can learn as much as I can with West Ham. I know it is going to be very tough but I believe I should expect much more from myself or I will never improve.' Cheng may follow the footsteps of Hong Kong's Cheung Tsz-doi, 57, who went to England when he was 19 and had an 18-month spell with Blackpool in the 1960s.
Cheung became a coach after returning from England and coached local First Division sides Happy Valley, Kui Tan and Kitchee in the 90s before he became a taxi driver.
Even if the West Ham deal falls through, Cheng will not have to worry about his future as he has signed with South China for two years.
