Chelsea midfielder Oscar says he is on the verge of completing a transfer to Chinese Super League giants Shanghai SIPG.
Reports in England have claimed the Brazil international is set to reunite with former manager Andre Villas-Boas after Chelsea accepted an offer said to be worth up to £52 million.
The 25-year-old is set to join up with fellow Brazilian Hulk, who is reportedly earning around £320,000-a-week in China, and will work under the management for Villas-Boas.
The Portuguese manager was keen on signing Oscar while he was in charge of Tottenham, but he ended up completing a £25 million move to Chelsea instead.
The Brazilian midfielder has lost his place in the Chelsea starting line-up over the past 12 months and has not started a game in the Premier League since the Blues’ defeat to Liverpool in September.
Oscar looks set to become the latest big-money signing for the Chinese Super League, following former Chelsea teammate Ramires to Asia.
Chelsea’s out-of-favour star was reported to be close to joining Shanghai SIPG for a staggering £52m fee yesterday and Oscar has now confirmed that it is set to go ahead.
“It’s 90 per cent certain,” he is quoted as telling SporTV. “It just depends on a few bureaucratic details.”
Oscar has won the Premier League, the Europa League and the EFL Cup since joining Chelsea from Internacional back in 2012.
The attacking midfielder was a key part of former boss Jose Mourinho’s plans, particularly during their title-winning campaign of 2014-15, but he has found his opportunities limited under Antonio Conte.
Oscar started all five of Chelsea’s opening Premier League games this season but has been restricted to just four substitute appearances since September, with Conte having revitalised his side’s form during that time by using a 3- 4-3 system.
He is expected to become the most expensive signing in CSL history, with his transfer fee anticipated to eclipse the reported €55.8m paid by Shanghai to sign compatriot Hulk from Zenit in June.
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