• Premier League

Chinese club increasingly confident of Anelka deal

ESPN staff
December 7, 2011
Nicolas Anelka is headed for the Stamford Bridge exit door © PA Photos
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Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua remain confident they will sign out-of-favour Chelsea forward Nicolas Anelka when the transfer window opens in January.

Anelka has been told he is free to leave Stamford Bridge at the turn of the year, as Blues manager Andre Villas-Boas looks to take his squad in a different direction. The former France international has previously claimed he "knows where he will be on January 2", with Shanghai Shenhua linked with a surprise swoop.

The club have now confirmed their strong interest in the player, with assistant spokesperson Ma Yue revealing that negotiations with Anelka's brother, who also acts as his agent, are progressing well despite complicated details.

"It will be a three-year contract and will involve both football and commercial co-operation," Ma told the Shanghai Daily.

"We started to talk about every detail from the first minute of the negotiations," club chairman Zhu Jun added on his personal blog. "The whole contract is made up of details. It's comprehensive and complicated, involving the player's image and the commercial co-operation."

However, Shenhua may face late competition from Championship side West Ham for Anelka's signature, according to reports.

Anelka previously worked with Hammers boss Sam Allardyce when both men were at Bolton, and Allardyce is believed to be keen to reunite with the forward as he tries to take his side back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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