OSCAR
Chelsea have confirmed a £52million fee has been agreed with Shanghai SIPG over the sale of Brazilian midfielder Oscar.He will become the most expensive signing by a Chinese Super League club, joining up with former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas in January as clubs in the Far East continue to splash the cash.
Oscar has fallen out of favour under Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge, playing 11 matches this season but has not started in the Premier League for the leaders since mid-September, when Chelsea were beaten 2-1 by Liverpool.
OSCAR'S CHELSEA STATS
Games: 203
Goals: 38
Honours: Europa League (2012), League Cup (2015), Premier League (2015)
Chelsea said: 'Chelsea Football Club and Shanghai SIPG have agreed terms for the permanent transfer of Oscar.
'We thank Oscar for his wonderful service and wish him the very best of luck for the future.'
Brazil striker Hulk became SIPG's record signing in June, joining from Zenit St Petersburg for £47m on £320,000 a week — but Oscar will leapfrog his countryman as the club's top earner.
The club have decided to cash in, having paid £19m to sign Oscar from Brazilian club Internacional four-and-a-half years ago, as Conte looks to revamp his defence in the next two transfer windows.
Oscar will be the latest player with Chelsea connections to play in China, following Didier Drogba, Ramires, Nicolas Anelka and Demba Ba.
He leaves Stamford Bridge having won the Premier League title, Europa League, League Cup and twice winning the club's goal of the season award.
Given the riches on offer, the Chinese Super League is quickly becoming a serious option for Europe's most high-profile players.
Oscar joins the Chinese side at a time of financial boom for the league, with five of the 14 best-paid footballers in the world now playing in the CSL.
Graziano Pelle, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Jackson Martinez are all recent arrivals in the league, while Villas-Boas himself is also on big money, earning £11m-a-year since replacing former England boss Sven Goran-Eriksson.
Chelsea manager Conte has recently spoken of the 'danger' posed by the big-spending Chinese Super League sides, who now boast the financial clout to outmuscle Premier League rivals.
Speaking last week, before the Oscar deal was officially announced, he said: 'The Chinese market is a danger for all teams in the world; not only for Chelsea but all teams in the world.
'But I think that we must be concentrated on our work. I think that this league is fantastic and to play in this league is a great opportunity, a great honour.
'You must be very proud to play in this league. Because I think now it's the best league in the world.
'For this reason, I don't worry about this.'
Shanghai finished third in the league last season, meaning that their Asian Champions League campaign begins early in the play-off rounds in February.
They have never won the Super League, but did finish second under Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2015.
THE TOP-10 BEST-PAID FOOTBALLERS IN THE WORLD
1) Oscar (Shanghai SIPG) £400,000 per week £20.8m per year*
2=) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) £365,000 per week £19m per year**
2= Lionel Messi (Barcelona) £365,000 per week £19m per year**
4) Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) £346,000 per week £18m per year**
5) Hulk (Shanghai SIPG) £317,000 per week £16.5m per year
6) Paul Pogba (Manchester United) £290,000 per week £15m per year
7) Neymar (Barcelona) £289,000 per week £15m per year**
8) Graziano Pelle (Shandong Luneng) £260,000 per week £13.5m per year
9) Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) £260,000 per week £13.5m per year
10) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United) £250,000 per week £13m per year
* Transfer is set to be completed in January
** All estimated figures are pre-tax, except in these cases where figures are post-tax. Sums may vary according to bonus payments.
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