Wednesday 24 February 2016 16:42, UK
With the transfer window in the Chinese Super League still open for business even more big-money moves could take place - but how much time is left and which players could be lured to the Far East?
The winter window may have shut in the Premier League and across the rest of Europe on earlier this month, but that has not stopped clubs in the CSL from continuing to splash the cash.
So how much have teams in China spent so far in the transfer window and who still has room left on their rosters to accommodate foreign signings?
We answer those questions and more…
Names like Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, yes, it will probably happen pretty soon
When does the transfer window close in China?
Friday February 26, ahead of the start of the new CSL season on March 4.
Who has made the move to the CSL?
A number of high-profile players have already decided to make the switch to China, with the biggest outlay so far being the £38m that Jiangsu Suning spent to sign Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira on February 5.
The Brazilian's big-money move to the Far East broke the CSL transfer record for the third time in the space of just 10 days after Jackson Martinez and Ramires had joined Guangzhou Evergrande and Jiangsu Suning for £31.5m and £21m respectively.
Other transfers to have caught the eye this window include former Arsenal forward Gervinho's £13.5m move from Roma to Hebei China Fortune and Fredy Guarin's £9.75m switch from Inter Milan to Shanghai Shenhua.
Last summer, former Chelsea frontman Demba Ba signed for Shanghai Shenhua for £9.75m, Brazil midfielder Paulinho left Tottenham Hotspur for Guangzhou Evergrande in a £10.5m deal and ex-Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan moved to Shanghai SIPG for £6.75m.
West Ham United forward Nikica Jelavic continued the recent trend of players moving from the continent to football's fastest-growing economy after joining Chinese second division side Beijing Renhe on Tuesday - and PSG forward Ezequiel Lavezzi has now signed for Hebei China Fortune.
How much have CSL clubs spent in the transfer window?
Teixeira's recent big-money move to Jiangsu Suning took total spending among teams in China to £194.2m - and Lavezzi's switch - for a fee that has not been disclosed - means the spending has broken the £200m barrier.
This figure surpasses the £172.65m that Premier League sides spent during the January transfer window, with Stoke's £18.3m capture of midfielder Giannelli Imbula from Porto the biggest outlay of last month.
With the window open for several days yet, Chinese clubs could still target more big names from Europe, subject to rules governing the number of foreign-based players a team can have.
How many foreign players are CSL sides allowed?
The league states that each team can have a total of just five foreign players, which must include one from the Asian Football Confederation.
However, each club is only allowed to field a maximum of four overseas stars at any one time.
Which CSL sides can still sign foreign players?
The vast majority of the 16 clubs in the CSL have already used up their quota of foreign-based players ahead of the new campaign.
But the likes of Guangzhou R&F and Shijiazhuang Ever Bright still have room on their rosters for more overseas recruits.
Who else could become a target?
Chelsea have already turned down a £75m offer from Jiangsu Suning for their Brazil midfielder Oscar, according to reports in the Daily Telegraph, while Sky sources understand a Chinese club were willing to pay £38m for Dimitri Payet before the West Ham midfielder signed a new contract.
Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote, Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata and Chelsea striker Loic Remy have also been reported targets for other teams in China, while Germany's Bild newspaper has reported that former Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner is weighing up a Far East move.
In fact, it would be no surprise were CSL clubs to start making moves for even bigger Premier League stars, such as Chelsea captain John Terry and his United counterpart Wayne Rooney.
"Every year the number of clubs capable of making big-money additions seems to increase as we are seeing more and more clubs taken over by big enterprises," Chris Atkins, a Chinese football expert based in Guangzhou, told Sky Sports.
And with the TV rights for the next five years of the CSL costing £830m, more than 30 times the previous sum, Shanghai SIPG boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has even suggested that players of the calibre of Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo could one day be lured to the Far East.
"Now, in 2016, China seems to be taking over. Top Chinese clubs today can hold their own with the biggest clubs in Europe when it comes to the transfer fees," said Eriksson.
"Names like Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, yes, it will probably happen pretty soon."
