Oscar seals record deal as Wenger warns on an ‘exodus’ to China

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has warned the Premier League not to underestimate the enormous spending power of Chinese football after the Asian country secured another high- profile signing yesterday.

Wenger joins Chelsea counterpart Antonio Conte in expressing concern that a growing number of players could be lured to the Far East by the riches on offer in the Chinese Super League.

The Frenchman spoke out on the same day Chelsea midfielder Oscar,

was set to become the world’s highest-paid player, earning a reported $490 760 per week (that’s not too far off R7- million), after agreeing to join Shanghai SIPG.

“It’s (Oscar’s move) a surprise to me but when I was in Japan they had many Brazilian players like Leonardo, Jorginho and Dunga. The competition was well organised,” the former Nagoya Grampus manager Wenger said.

Graziano Pelle, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Jackson Martinez are all recent arrivals in China, while Shanghai SIPG manager André Villas-Boas is on a lucrative contract since replacing former England boss Sven Goran-Eriksson.

Additionally, Argentine striker Carlos Tevez is on the brink of a bigmoney move to Shanghai Shenhua, while influential Arsenal winger Alexis Sanchez has been linked with a transfer to Hebei China Fortune.

“I think Oscar moves because he doesn’t play. China gives him that opportunity and a lot of money,” Wenger added.

“It could become a problem in future for the Premier League.”

Arsenal meanwhile received a boost ahead of a busy schedule as Danny Welbeck, who last played back in May, is finally returning to duty after recovering from injury. – Reuters