West Ham United striker Nikica Jelavic. (Photo : Getty Images)
Five-time Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao FC is reportedly close to signing West Ham United striker Nikica Jelavic as the January transfer window for English Premier League clubs closes.
The only thing standing in the way of the 30-year-old Croatian from moving to China is said to be the loan signing of Nigerian striker Emmanuel Emenike from Turkish Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe SK, as per Tribal Football.
Once the 28-year-old Nigerian international has settled in the Upton Park, Jelavic will then depart for China and play for the five consecutive Chinese top flight champs and two-time AFC Champions League winners.
The report mentioned that the Hammers are also close to acquiring Emenike as he "has done his medical at Upton Park with West Ham just needing to complete the paperwork with his Turkish club and Abu Dhabi side Al Ain where he is currently on loan".
Meanwhile, the Daily Express noted that the Irons have the option to make the Emenike transfer permanent for a fee of £8.3 million. Fenerbahce chairman Aziz Yildrim announced on Saturday that both sides have agreed for the permanent transfer option if Emenike's "loan spell is a success".
"We're about to loan Emenike to West Ham United," Yildirim said. "They will give £760,000 to us for this agreement and they will have the option to purchase him for £8.3m."
While the alleged "lucrative offer" from the Southern China Tigers for Jelavic is still undisclosed, it is said to be a once-in-a-lifetime offer that the Čapljina, SFR Yugoslavia native cannot pass up.
West Ham had just signed Jelavic to a two-year deal in September of last year, appearing with the club in 14 games in all competitions, scoring two goals in limited minutes. Before that he played for Hull City AFC, an English second division squad, from January 2014, appearing in 50 games and scoring 13 times.
Jelavic started his senior career with top flight Croatian team HNK Hajduk Split during the 2002-2003 season. He stayed with the club for five seasons before moving to Belgium first division squad Zulte Waregem in July 2007.
The winter transfer window deadline for Chinese squads is on February 23, three weeks from today.
