Serie A giants Inter Milan are reportedly close to selling Colombian midfielder Fredy Guarin to Chinese Super League club Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC for a transfer fee of €11 million, amidst reports that the Italian side is negotiating with Jiangsu Suning FC also of the CSL.
Caught Offside indicated that the 29-year-old Colombia international is "on the verge of securing a deal with Chinese outfit Shanghai Shenhua" and that the move will cost the Blue Devils "€11m, plus another €1m in performance-related bonuses" as well as an anticipated "lucrative agreement" for Guarin in terms of personal wages.
Guarin had been linked to another CSL squad, Jiangsu Suning, in the past few weeks since the January transfer window opened, but reports have emerged that he and his representatives were "fed up" with the said Chinese club's delays.
"We just want to evaluate written proposals and will not talk to anyone anymore. Enough words!" exclaimed Guarin's agent, Marcelo Ferreyra, when asked about the Jiangsu negotiations, as per Tribal Football. "If there is an interesting offer for us and for Inter, then we will evaluate it."
"The Jiangsu intermediaries disappeared like two ghosts. They promised all sorts of things, then we never saw them again," Ferreyra added.
Another alleged reason why Guarin's side chose Shanghai over Jiangsu is his fellow Colombian Giovanni Moreno, who currently captains the squad of French head coach Francis Gillot.
Guarin is also set to join other international players in the Blue Devils roster such as Senegalese forward Demba Ba, Greek defender Avraam Papadopoulos, Brazilian striker Paulo Henrique, Malian midfielder Mohamed Sissoko, and Australian winger Tim Cahill.
Reports are now out that the 6-foot Puerto Boyacá, Colombia native is scheduled to go through a medical in Spain before flying to China to link up with his new squad.
Meanwhile, there were also speculations that the profit Inter is set to earn in the Guarin deal will be used by I Nerazzurri to bid for UC Sampdoria striker Eder before this winter window closes.
However, current Premier League leaders Leicester City are also rumored to be targeting the Brazil-born Italian for €13 million while Inter is said to be happy to buy him for only €10 million, which could most possibly take Eder to England eventually.