Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney is wanted as the face of the Chinese Super League according to The Sun.
The report suggests that the cash-rich division is keen to sign a global superstar to bolster the image of the league as the nation seeks to become one of football’s major powers.
Aesthetically, Rooney may not have the appeal of a figure such as David Beckham, who did so much to transform the image of Major League Soccer, but he remains a player with a major reputation across the world.
The 30-year-old still has three years left on his current contact at Old Trafford, but the report suggests that the Chinese Super League could be tempted to spend big in order to acquire England’s all-time top scorer.
The Sun suggests that a recent TV deal worth £830 million has given the league a spending power that could see them transform the global sporting landscape.
Could Rooney be tempted by the riches on offer in the Far East? And would the acquisition of the United forward coax others to move to the CSL?
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To date, the likes of Demba Ba, Tim Cahill, Robinho and Mohamed Sissoko are among the biggest names to have played in China, while Didier Drogba scored eight goals in 11 matches with Shanghai Shenhua and Seydou Keita spent time at Dalian Aerbin.
This summer, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paulinho moved to Guangzhou Evergrande [The Guardian].