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Jonathan White

The transfer window for Chinese clubs never fails to deliver, at least in terms of transfer rumours.
That is where we stand right now with the window open blowing in nothing but hot air.
West Ham United striker Marko Arnautovic is the latest player to be linked with a move to China, although the club reported to be interested in the Austria international remains unnamed.
That is so often the case when players are linked to the Chinese Super League.
Rumours of Chinese clubs wanting to sign overseas players have been the currency of tabloids for years but they have increased in volume ever since Chinese clubs started spending big in 2016.

This is nonsense https://t.co/mrNgUhCECy Rumour no doubt being spread by mischievous intermediary seeking to press West Ham or a potential buyer. 100% football tax in China would make Arnautovic one of world's most expensive players. Also, currency movement out of China an issue.
— Prof Simon Chadwick (@Prof_Chadwick) January 10, 2019

“Player X to unnamed club” or “player Y to Chinese Super League” is one thing but when it is not unsubstantiated links with unnamed clubs then it is weirder still.
Earlier this week newly promoted Shenzhen FC announced that they had emailed AC Milan to get to the bottom of reports suggesting they are in the market for striker Fabio Borini.
The story went that the CSL club were unwilling to pay the €10 million Milan wanted and they were negotiating. Then they dropped their interest.
That was the version from Italy but the story from China was markedly different.
Shenzhen released a statement via the Shenzhen Evening Post making it clear that they were never interested in Borini and that they had emailed the Milan club to ask where the reports had come from.
A new one for sure.
Emails to get to the bottom of transfer speculation is a new one but even still it would be no surprise if the former Sunderland man turned up in Shenzhen ahead of the new season.
All football clubs prefer to do their business out of the public eye but Chinese clubs are a different beast.
A year ago Guangzhou Evergrande reiterated their pledge to play an all-Chinese team by 2020. This came in the face of widespread rumours linking them with a move to then Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang.
The Gabon hitman moved to Arsenal but it should be noted that the seven-time Chinese champions only mounted a title defence of note because they signed Paulinho and Anderson Talisca in the mid-season window.
It was 12 months back that Beijing Guoan were adamant that they had no idea about stories linking them with Villareal striker Cedric Bakambu.
Reports had suggested that the Congo striker’s buyout clause had been met by the Beijing club but they were stoneyfaced in their response.
“We were not aware of this. We learned later through multiple channels that he left the club for personal reasons,” they said at the time. 
Marko Arnautovic to China: forward’s brother says Austrian ‘greatly desires’ CSL switch as West Ham dig in
Bakambu went on to sign for the club. The deal was further complicated by the introduction of the so-called “transfer tax” on Chinese Super League clubs.
Beijing Guoan effectively had to pay double for the striker, although the exact amount of tax they paid has never come to light, making him the most expensive African footballer in history.
Bakambu scored 19 goals in 23 league games and four goals in five Chinese FA Cup matches as the team took the trophy back to the capital.
Even with that return it is hard to justify an outlay north of €70 million, a similar figure being reported for Arnautovic with the tax included.
That figure was a shock a year ago and it is more shocking now. The transfer tax remains in place but has been joined by a raft of other financial constraints ahead of the new season. The message from above is to curb spending and for clubs to live within their means.
Coupled with China’s general economic downturn no club or their chairmen want to be seen to put their heads above the parapet, at least not admitting to a multimillion-dollar deal.
You can see why Beijing Guoan are looking to distance themselves from a reported deal for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele.
Chinese Football Association to introduce salary cap amid raft of financial constraints but 100 per cent tax stays 
Alexandre Pato to leave Tianjin Quanjian after Chinese Super League side caught up in owner’s arrest
Beijing Guoan CEO Li Ming told Beijing News that “Guoan have not been in touch with Mousa Dembele”.
Nonetheless, British media think that an £11 million deal is almost done for the Belgian midfielder and we sit and wait to see where the truth lies.
Agents have long used the media to get leverage for their clients and Arnautovic’s brother and agent Danijel might be doing just that.
The media are happy to report it, transfer rumours sell papers and generate clicks. Those insufferable ITKs on social media are happy to parrot them too and then there are the folks who love making stuff up.
It’s hard enough to negotiate without the added subterfuge of Chinese clubs but it would be a surprise to see any deals approaching Hulk, Oscar or even Bakambu in this window.
Until the deals are done, confusion is the only currency.


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Chinese Super League

‘Unnamed Chinese club’ leading the way again in another transfer window full of hot air

Cedric Bakambu made an African record transfer to China last year. Once again, all eyes are on China during the transfer window. Photo: Alamy

epa07253485 Milan's Fabio Borini (R) and Spal's Mohamed Fares in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match AC Milan vs S.P.A.L. at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 29 December 2018. EPA-EFE/MATTEO BAZZI

PYP395 London, England - October 29, 2018 Tottenham Hotspur's Mousa Dembele during Premier League between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Wembley stadium , London, England on 29 Oct 2018. Credit Action Foto Sport FA Premier League and Football League images are subject to DataCo Licence. Editorial use ONLY. No print sales. No personal use sales. NO UNPAID USE

West Ham United's Austrian midfielder Marko Arnautovic chases the ball during the English FA Cup third round football match between West Ham United and Birmingham City at The London Stadium, in east London on January 5, 2019. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

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Familiar epithet is again garnering plenty of column inches in Western media as transfer window opens
Chinese clubs have become financial behemoths in recent years


The familiar epithet is again garnering plenty of column inches in the Western media as the transfer window opens with club’s looking to capitalise on Chinese clubs’ financial clout


Chinese Football Association (CFA)

‘Unnamed Chinese club’ leading the way again in another transfer window full of hot air

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Familiar epithet is again garnering plenty of column inches in Western media as transfer window opens Chinese clubs have become financial behemoths in recent years

Familiar epithet is again garnering plenty of column inches in Western media as transfer window opens

Chinese clubs have become financial behemoths in recent years