Chelsea targets Guangzhou’s Zhang
Print Edition
GUANGZHOU Evergrande defender Zhang Linpeng has been linked with English Premier League champion Chelsea just days before the August 31 deadline of the European transfer window.
China’s Titan Sports claimed Jose Mourinho’s club put in a bid for Zhang with the Chinese Super League side on Wednesday night. Titan claimed Chelsea wanted an experienced right back as cover for Serbia’s Branislav Ivanovic, and had kept tabs on Zhang for a while. The paper quoted Mourinho as saying that Zhang was a “top class Asian player, and possesses everything required to make it to the Premier League.”
The 26-year-old defender is known as “Zhangmos” for styling himself on Real Madrid defender Sergei Ramos in both looks and playing style. Former Evergrande manager Italy’s Marcello Lippi hailed him as “the best Chinese player in Chinese Super League.”
Zhang signed a new contract with Evergrande, which runs until 2020, only last month.
If the deal does go through, the heavily-tattooed Zhang will still have to wait before trying out the Chelsea blue.
Titan claimed Chelsea plans to loan out the Shandong Province native to another club in Europe. He has to earn a certain amount of playing time before qualifying for the Labor Certification to play in the Premier League.
“I worked hard and waited for five-six years for my dream to play abroad. I finally got the recognition from the English Premier League (club). Though I cannot play in the Premier League immediately, I believe they will work out a more professional plan for me,” Zhang told the paper.
Zhang said he was not worried about the negotiations with his current team.
“From the first day I came (to Evergrande), the team was aware of my dream of playing abroad. With Evergrande, we have won all the honors we could in Asia. I hope the club will understand and support me in my efforts to move to a higher stage.”
Sina.com reported that Evergrande wanted assurances on Zhang’s playing time before reaching any deal with a club. The website suggested Evergrande had told Zhang that it would not stand in his way if any European club made an offer and guaranteed him playing time.
Zhang is a protege of Shanghai’s veteran coach Xu Genbao, and joined the now-defunct Shanghai East Asia in 2006. He won the national team cap in 2009, and moved to Guangzhou a year later.
Technically proficient and solidly built, Zhang won four CSL titles and one Asian Champions League crown with Evergrande, scoring 11 goals from 96 league appearances.
Also, South Korea forward Son Heung-min joined Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen on a five-year deal, AP reported yesterday. British media claimed Spurs paid about 18 million pounds (US$27.7 million) for Son.
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