So, it took nearly 40 years, but it appears that China is about to destroy football in revenge for this… Thanks, Baggies!

The latest chapter in that perpetual best-seller on the “changing economics of football” looks like it’s being played out through the wave of signings and attempted signings to the Chinese Super League.

With Liverpool target Alex Teixeira moving from Shakhtar Donetsk to Jiangsu Suning for £38million, the Chinese league topped the English Premier League in spending during the winter transfer window. And it seems they’re not done yet, with Yaya Toure and Radamel Falcao also on the radar.

This is a very good up-sum by Matt Stead…

The BBC writes:

Asked if the Premier League should be concerned about the CSL’s spending power, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger replied: “Yes, of course.

“China looks to have the financial power to move the whole league of Europe to China.”

However, he wondered whether CSL clubs would continue to pay out huge sums of money on transfer fees.

“Will they sustain their desire to do it?” he asked. “Let’s remember, Japan started to do it a few years ago but slowed down.

“I don’t know how deep the desire in China is. If it is a very strong political desire, we should worry.”

But maybe the league that should be more concerned in the immediate short-term is MLS. As John Duerden wrote in The Guardian:

The really big names that can be tempted to leave Europe often go to MLS – Beckham, Lampard, Henry, Gerrard, Kaka and Pirlo – but China is increasingly able to pay big money (often too big at the moment but that is due to necessity more than naivety) for players that are not quite so stellar but are usually much closer to their prime.

Guangzhou have Ricardo Goulart, still only 24 and regarded as one of the top Brazilian prospects a year ago when he left Cruzerio, while Beijing Guoan has Renato Augusto one of four players from Brazilian champions Corinthians to make a recent move to China. East Asia is still a relative culture shock for players based in South America or Europe than North America but a growing number of Chinese clubs can offer huge salaries with Renato Augusto more than quadrupling his.

The US transfer system can be complex with plenty of rules and regulations. In China, it’s naked capitalism. There’s lots of money and lots of people happy to see that cash buying players from overseas.

https://twitter.com/Futfanatico/status/695356373761036288

https://twitter.com/MarkWard7777/status/694895018574614529

https://twitter.com/sfenwick75/status/694522976688029696

Meanwhile, Liverpool supporters are set to walk out of their game against Sunderland tomorrow in the 77th minute as part of a protest over ticket prices.

https://twitter.com/insidewldftball/status/695577887529893888

https://twitter.com/GoodisonView/status/695600282613497856

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BUSINESS (or rather, other business)

Darth Barbie?

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WORLD

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CULTURE

Finally, RIP Maurice White