Thursday 23 February 2017 21:50, UK
We look at Wayne Rooney's potential destinations in the Chinese Super League (CSL) as his agent heads to China for talks......
The CSL, which kicks off in March and will be live on Sky Sports, has tightened its quota on foreign players with Tuesday's transfer deadline looming.
As it stands, eight clubs have space for a fifth non-Chinese player - Beijing Sinobo Guoan, Changchun Yatai, Chongqing Lifan, Guizhou HFZC, Henan Jianye, Shandong Luneng, Jiangsu Suning and Tianjin Quanjian.
However, that doesn't mean other teams are out of the running. Rooney could still join if they sell one of their current foreign players to make room for the England captain.
So what are his options? Sky sources understand Guangzhou Evergrande, Beijing Guoan, Jiangsu Suning and Tianjin Quanjian are the main contenders...
One of the country's most successful teams, boasting its highest average attendance and many of the league's best players. Sound familiar?
There are similarities there with Manchester United should Rooney join Guangzhou, who are managed by former Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari.
They have won the last six league titles and boast the highest average attendance (44,883), getting more through the gate than Liverpool and Chelsea last season.
Scolari splashed out to sign Jackson Martinez from Atletico Madrid last February but he's largely flopped, scoring just four goals last campaign.
Instead, two-time player of the season Ricardo Goulart would likely partner Rooney in attack. The 25-year-old Brazilian top scored with 19 goals last season and is ably assisted by ex-Tottenham midfielder Paulinho.
Guangzhou currently have five foreign players in their squad, so would look to sell one before signing Rooney.
Another potential issue is their participation in the Asian Champions League. The competition is already under way and squads cannot be amended until the quarter-finals in August.
Would they want to spend £750,000-a-week on a player ineligible for much of the continent's premier tournament? Probably not, making a summer move more likely.
Rooney would certainly be a statement signing for Sinobo Group, Beijing Guoan's new owners.
The capital-city club have a Spanish manager, former Granada boss Jose Gonzalez, and a big-name striker in Turkey international Burak Yilmaz.
That hasn't put them off pursuing Rooney this month, having previously tried to sign him last summer.
Honorary club chairman Luo Ning said at the time: "We indeed made an approach for Rooney at the beginning of the season but he's informed us he wants to stay in Manchester United.
"Rooney says he'll keep playing in the Premier League as long as his health allows."
As it stands, they have space in their squad to add one more foreign player before the deadline.
Another CSL team with room for manoeuvre before the deadline, Jiangsu Suning have four foreigners on their books.
They've been aggressive in the transfer market recently, breaking their transfer record twice last January to sign Ramires from Chelsea and Alex Teixeira from Shakhtar Donetsk.
The investment paid off as they finished second last season, qualifying for the Asian Champions League, and they South Korean side Jeju United in the competition's opening round of fixtures on Wednesday.
But like Guangzhou, they would not be able to register Rooney for Champions League action until August.
They turned Diego Costa's head with a £30m-a-year offer in January and billionaire owner Shu Yuhui is itching to sign a marquee striker.
Last month he claimed Edinson Cavani, Karim Benzema, Radamel Falcao and Raul Jimenez were all targets but Tianjin eventually settled for Alexandre Pato.
World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro spearheaded their promotion from China League One and they've already signed Axel Witsel ahead of their debut CSL campaign.
In fact, the Italian recently admitted his club made an approach to sign Rooney but says they have not made a bid yet.
They have space in their squad for another foreign player, a stated interest in the England captain and no Champions League football, plus an owner eager to spend. It adds up to make them serious contenders.
