Nicolas Anelka (File Photo)
Shanghai Shenhua has confirmed it is in talks to bring Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka to the Chinese Super League (CSL) club, the Xinmin Evening News reported Tuesday.
Anelka's contract with the Blues will expire at the end of the season and he could leave Stamford Bridge in the next transfer window.
Zhou Jun, director of Shanghai Shenhua, told the newspaper the club has been working actively on bringing Anelka to China.
"We now have some advantage in the competition for signing him, but no one knows the answer until the end. The result will be clear before January 1," he said.
When asked to comment on the French striker's age, Zhou said 32 is not considered an old player in Europe and stressed that Anelka played in the Blues Carling Cup match with Liverpool on Nov 30.
Former Fulham coach Jean Tigana is likely to head the Shanghai Shenhua club next season in the Chinese Super League (CSL). The French coach left Shanghai Monday after three day's inspection on the club's facilities.
In a separate report, Zhou said Tigana is "very confident" in the club but denied Shanghai Shenhua has ever made any contact with former Real Madrid midfielder Guti.
"The rumor is not strange because our league is attracting more and more people," he said.
