Australia center back Trent Sainsbury (L) in action during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. (Photo : Getty Images)
Fresh football transfer rumors have emerged that Chinese Super League team Jiangsu Suning FC is targeting PEC Zwolle center back Trent Sainsbury this January transfer window.
Fox Sports indicated that Jiangsu has submitted a "lucrative offer" to the Dutch Eredivisie club in hopes of convincing them to release the 24-year-old Australian and move him to the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center.
The 6-foot Perth, Australia native started his senior career with the A-League's Central Coast Mariners from 2010 to 2013 before being signed by PEC Zwolle in January 2014.
Sainsbury appeared in 32 games for the Blauwvingers in three seasons, scoring one goal mainly as a starting defender for the Zwolle side.
The report said that the story came from former Central Coast manager Phil Moss during an interview at Fox Sports News 500.
"That deal is very imminent and it could happen at any time now," Moss said, via the Daily Telegraph. "It's a massive deal and it's going to set him up for life. It's one that he can't refuse."
"There's a mandate from the Chinese government to win the World Cup within 24 years, so at all levels of the game they're throwing money at it," he added.
The total amount of the said three-year offer is allegedly reaching up to eight figures, which includes Sainsbury's salary and the transfer fee that the Bluefingers will receive to complete the deal.
Jiangsu is one of the most active CSL squads this winter transfer window. The team has been linked to a lot of international football stars namely Sampdoria's Eder, AC Milan's Luiz Adriano, Antalyaspor's Samuel Eto'o, Inter Milan's Fredy Guarin, Manchester City's Yaya Touré, and Roma's Gervinho.
