Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure could be the next talent from a major European league to move to China.
The Daily Telegraph reports that Toure, a stalwart figure in Manchester City's two English Premier League title triumphs in 2012 and 2014, will be offered a £30 million ($43 million) a year after-tax contract by a team in the Chinese Super League, with Jiangsu Suning believed to be interested.
Jiangsu made news during the January transfer window when it signed Ramires, the Chelsea midfielder, for £25 million ($36 million). Fredy Guarin, the Colombian Inter Milan star, joined Shanghai Shenhua, while it was widely reported on Tuesday that Jackson Martinez, the Atletico Madrid striker and Guarin's Colombia team mate, had moved to Guangzhou Evergrande for £31 million ($45 million).
That Toure plans to move on from Manchester City is not a surprise. Dimitri Seluk, the player's agent, confirmed as much on Tuesday when he told The Sun: "I think Yaya will leave the club. But before leaving, I hope he will again win the league and all the cups."
Manchester City has a new manager to replace Manuel Pellegrini, with Pep Guardiola, the former Barcelona head coach, taking over at the end of this season.
But reports that Toure could earn £576,923 each week ($835,700) in China demonstrate the country's growing financial might in competing with the Premier League, La Liga, the Bundesliga and Serie A in terms of wages.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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