|
Chelsea are reportedly on the brink of signing Chinese defender Zhang Linpeng from Guangzhou Evergrande. Zhang, 26, has helped Evergrande to four consecutive league titles and to success in the Asian Champions League since joining the club in 2010. Titan, the biggest newspaper in China, says that Chelsea hope to complete the deal before the transfer window closes on Tuesday. "I'm very happy and very excited to finally have this formal invitation," Titan quoted Zhang, who has won 44 caps for China, as saying. "I've worked hard and waited these five or six years for my dream of playing overseas, and finally have recognition from the English Premier League." However, new work permit rules mean there is little chance of Zhang being permitted to play in the Premier League. Only players who represent a country in the top 50 of the FIFA Ranking are considered for an automatic work permit, and China are ranked 79th. It means that even if Chelsea do sign the player he will have to be loaned out. "Although I'm unable to play Premier League directly, I believe [Chelsea] will have the most professional arrangements regarding my permit," he added. "I have no worries at all about the negotiations." He can play both at full-back and in the centre of defence. Marcello Lippi, Fabio Cannavaro and Luiz Felipe Scolari have coached Evergrande over the past three years, with Lippi saying Zhang is "the best Chinese footballer in the Chinese Super League."
|
