Ramires of Chelsea (Photo : Getty Images)
Chelsea FC are reportedly planning to sell off both Ramires and John Obi Mikel to two Chinese clubs.
The Jiangsu Suning Football Club is reportedly set to acquire Ramires of Chelsea FC for an inflated fee, while Mikel's move remains speculative.
According to ESPN FC, Ramires is nearing a January exit from Chelsea with Chinese Super League clubs Jiangsu Suning and Shanghai Shenhua battling for the Brazilian's signature.
But Khaled Abdallah of Sports Illustrated's Fansided, Ramires' transfer to Jiangsu for is all but set, although a move to China would be odd for the 28-year-old at this time of his career.
"He has been a largely forgotten man under Guus Hiddink despite playing well under Jose Mourinho this season,"Abdallah wrote. "Still, Ramires is just 28-years-old and is still in the midst of his prime so a move to China would be strange on a personal level as well."
Moreover, Ramires, who has become disappointed with the lack of playing time under interim manager Guus Hiddink, signed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge in October, locking him up with The Pensioners until 2019.
Chelsea also paid Benfica £18m to get Ramires back in 2010, making the China move the more odd for the Blue Lions.
"By moving to China, Ramires would be able to guarantee himself and his family a very nice wage packet that he would not receive from many other clubs and certainly not from Chelsea," Abdallah added.
"Having come from humble beginnings and reportedly earning £2 a day working construction as a teenager, making a few hundred thousand pounds a week in China can be very appealing."
ESPN further reported that Ramires has drawn interests from European clubs, but the Brazilian international is more tempted to take a hefty paycheck of £25 million from the Chinese football club, which is expected to be finalized this week.
Jiangsu is in the market to sign an international star and still have the budget for another overseas signing following the failed attempt to acquire AC Milan striker Luiz Adriano earlier this month.
