Manchester City fear losing stars Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany after Chinese Super League side targets club for summer deals
Beijing Guoan draw up shortlist of Etihad players and are prepared to triple their wages to get their man
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MANCHESTER CITY have been warned a Chinese Super League club is targeting a string of their best players - and are willing to triple their wages to sign who they want.
City, one of the riches clubs in the world game, face being blown out of the water when it comes to paying wages as the cash rich Chinese switch their attention to the Premier League.
And that means they could face a fight to keep hold of star names like Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Yaya Toure.
One of the most powerful business figures in the Asian game claims Beijing Guoan have already drawn up a shortlist of players at the Etihad Stadium they want to sign.
Eric Gao, the man behind the International Champions Cup which this year pitches Pep Guardiola's City against Jose Mourinho's Manchester United, says he has been asked to help set up deals.
Gao said: “In terms of the Premier League, there are no limits. Chinese clubs will pay players two or three times more than they are at present.
“The players would make more money at Chinese clubs.
“Beijing Guoan have drawn up a short list of top players from Manchester City who interest them.
“I cannot tell you any of their names as it would not be the opportune time to do so.”
Football-loving President Xi Jinping's ambition is to turn China into a world soccer power, with successful clubs and a winning national team.
Until now the majority of the £300million spent on players this year alone has gone on South American players, but Gao says focus is beginning to switch to Europe and the Premier League in particular.
Proof of the kind of money on offer has been evident this week with Brazilian striker Hulk making a £45million move to Shanghai SIPG on a bumper salary of almost £17million-a-year.
Gao added: “The President of China re-organised the football system and this will keep the momentum going for dozens even hundreds of years.
“It will continue under him and will carry on after him. Chinese football will grow. Some people say it's just a beginning and not the finish of it.
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“Chinese people like to buy good assets and I think England and the Premier League clubs will become more and more of a target.
“I am working closely with the Beijing and Shanghai clubs on targeting players.
“Even last night I talked with people from UEFA and they said 'Eric can you find us an agent to help buy some players'.
“For us from our point of view there are not many players left in South America, that well is drying up.”