Australian national football team striker James Troisi. (Photo : Getty Images)
Australian national team footballer James Troisi, who is currently a free agent after severing ties with former squad Al-Ittihad FC in the Saudi Professional League, is set to move to China and join compatriot Michael Thwaite in playing for Chinese Super League side Liaoning Whowin FC, recent reports say.
SBS indicated that the 27-year-old winger was given an offer by Liaoning Whowin at an undisclosed amount as the Northeast Tigers are reportedly seeking an "in-demand attacker" that could help improve their offensive options up front.
Troisi is one of the primary options of the Chinese squad during this winter transfer window as the Rose Park, South Australia is said to be also keen on uniting with fellow Socceroo Thwaite in Liaoning.
The report also said that apart from Liaoning, two other unnamed Chinese teams are interested in Troisi, as well as clubs from the Middle East, the US' Major League Soccer, and three from the Australian A-League, particularly his hometown squad of Adelaide United.
The Advertiser reported that the Reds are "trying to lure Troisi" back to Australia more than ever following the ACL injury of their resident striker Eli Babalj, which left the team with a gaping hole in scoring.
Meanwhile, ESPN confirmed that three A-League squads are bidding for Troisi, namely Adelaide, Melbourne Victory, and Melbourne City FC.
Of the three, United and Melbourne City are said to be the most likely considerations of Troisi as the Victory are reportedly more inclined on looking for a defensive midfielder than a striker to compensate for the absence Carl Valeri, who is still currently sidelined by illness.
However, the 5-foot-10 forward is reportedly keen on progressing his career overseas than to settle back in the Land Down Under. There were rumors that he moved out of the Saudi premier league side because of unpaid wages and so his current options were said to be to go to China or the US.
Apart from Thwaite, other Australian national team members who are in the Chinese Super League right now are vice-captain Tim Cahill (Shanghai Shenhua), Ryan McGowan (Henan Jianye), and Trent Sainsbury (Jiangsu Suning).
Troisi began his senior career with English Premier League squad Newcastle United in 2007-2008. He also had brief stints with Serie A clubs Atalanta BC and Juventus during the 2012-2014 and 2014-2015 seasons respectively.
