Rumors have emerged that Chinese Super League team Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC is now targeting former Arsenal FC forward Lukas Podolski just hours after officially signing Colombian midfielder Fredy Guarin from Inter Milan.
Football Fan Cast indicated that the 30-year-old German "could become the next big name player to head to the Chinese Super League" after local media outlet Bild claimed that Shanghai Shenhua has presented the Germany international a contract that would earn him €9 million (£6.85 million) per year to move to China.
Podolski is currently playing for Turkish Süper Lig club Galatasaray SK after being transferred from the Gunners on loan to Inter in July of last year.
It was also reported that the other Shanghai-based team, Shanghai SIPG, is also interested in Podolski, but The Sun's Dream Team FC specifically mentioned the Blue Devils as the Chinese club that made an offer to the German.
The Gliwice, Poland-born forward had been a professional footballer since 2003 and is considered as one of the most experienced and most versatile players at his position until now.
He began his senior career in Bundesliga with FC Köln's second team before being promoted to its first team shortly after a few months. He stayed with the team until 2006 when he was transferred to rival squad Bayern Munich in June of that year.
Podolski had a successful three-year stint with Bayern before going back to Köln in 2009. From there he was again transferred, but this time to England with Premier League giants Arsenal in April 2012.
He suited up for the Gunners for three seasons, appearing in 82 games and scoring 31 times in all competitions as one of the club's premier attackers. He also spent his last season with Arsenal on loan to I Nerazzurri, playing in 18 games and scoring one goal, before moving to his current team of Galatasaray.
The Chinese Super League has been quite busy during this January transfer window, reportedly spending at least £106 million on new international players in the past few weeks.
The most notable signings as of late are Ramires from Chelsea to Jiangsu Suning for £25 million, a new Chinese record, Gervinho from Roma to Hebei China Fortune for £14 million, and just recently Guarin from Inter to Shanghai Shenhua for £9 million.