Recent rumors were out that Inter Milan midfielder Fredy Guarin is close to completing an €18 million transfer offer from Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning FC during this January transfer season.
Calcio Mercato reported that Inter is keen on selling the 29-year-old Colombian because the team is planning to purchase new talents in this winter window as well. Without selling anyone valuable from manager Roberto Mancini's lineup, Internazionale will not be able to raise funds to carry out their plans.
It was also reported that Guarin is set to receive a three-year deal with a salary of €7 million per season from the Chinese side, for a total of €21 million.
I Nerazzurri sporting director Piero Ausilio confirmed the reports, saying that the "Colombia international could depart for China" after Guarin was not included in the lineup that beat Italian Serie A league leaders SSC Napoli, 2-0, during Tuesday's Coppa Italia match.
"He's still an Inter player," said Ausilio, via ESPN. "There's no point hiding, we are in negotiations, but until the documents are signed we cannot talk about a done deal. We'll see where all these negotiations take us."
"If Guarin did leave, he'd be replaced in the squad, but we'll make those evaluations later on," he added.
Inter officials have allegedly instructed Mancini to "sell players before he can buy". The money set to be earned from a Guarin sale is reportedly going to be used to acquire Sampdoria players Eder and Roberto Soriano.
Eder was also recently offered a multi-year deal by Jiangsu, but the Italian striker turned it down.