Quanjian deny approach for Costa
CSL team rumored to have Chelsea star as transfer target
Chinese Super League ( CSL) club Tianjin Quanjian distanced themselves on Tuesday from a move for Chelsea striker Diego Costa when the league’s transfer window opens next month.
The Brazil- born Spain international has been consistently linked to the Fabio Cannavarocoached club since the turn of the year and speculation has intensified that the club will seek to sign the 28- year- old this summer.
But in a statement issued on the club’s website on Tuesday, Quanjian denied they had been in contact with Costa’s representatives and said they would not allow themselves to be dragged into a bidding war for any foreign player.
“Regarding the rumors and reports that Tianjin Quanjian’s summer transfer plan is to buy Diego Costa, we hereby clarify the following: During the past six months the club has not communicated with Diego Costa or his agent regarding his transfer to Tianjin Quanjian,” the statement said.
“Our strategy of bringing new players to the club is based on the general principle of providing entertainment and sustainable development.
“We have no intention of becoming involved in any unhealthy competition and, consequently, paying a premium price.”
Quanjian added Brazil international Alexandre Pato and Belgian star Axel Witsel to their squad after winning the Chinese second division last year, but have won just three top- flight games this season and are now sitting in the seventh place, 12 points adrift of leaders Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao.
Cannavaro recently complained about his team’s lack of a top- class striker and reports in Europe have suggested Quanjian would seek to sign PierreEmerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund.
However, the statement also claimed the club does not intend to follow the example of CSL giants Shanghai SIPG and Shanghai Greenland Shenhua by paying inflated fees in the transfer market, preferring instead to focus on youth development.
“The 2017 season is our debut season in the CSL,” the club said in the statement.
“While focussing on enhancing the quality of our own football, we are also working hard to contribute to a healthy environment for Chinese football.
The CSL debutants said they want to have world- class players playing in China for entertainment purposes and to make the CSL attractive, but also noted it’s not just bringing top players with money.
“We also have investment in Tianjin’s youth system and our football development campus, which we see as our responsibility,” the club noted.
“Tianjin Quanjian will consistently seek to contribute to Chinese football.”