China’s winter transfer window "looks set to open with a bang" as Chelsea midfielder Oscar is set to join Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG in the "latest record-breaking deal," according to James Porteous of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. The Brazil int'l said that "the move is all but done." He said, "It's 90% done. It just depends on some bureaucratic details." The 25-year-old will join SIPG Manager Andre Villas-Boas. The fee has been "variously put" at €60M ($64M) or £60M ($75.8M). Either "would surpass the Asian transfer record" of €56M that SIPG paid for Brazilian Hulk in June. And it looks like the record will not "last long," with Argentine side Boca Juniors and Argentina int'l Carlos Tevez "linked with a move to Shanghai Shenhua" for €80M ($101M). Oscar has "fallen out of favour" under Chelsea Manager Antonio Conte and "looks set to triple his wages." Reports in South Korea claimed that Villas-Boas "also made a plea" to Swansea City’s Ki Sung-yeung to join SIPG. However, Sung-yeung said, "Fame is more important than money" (SCMP, 12/14).
