As the 2023 Chinese Super League season comes to an end, the player transfer market is starting to buzz. Many clubs have already prepared their signings for next season.
Due to the downturn of the Chinese Super League in recent seasons, it is no longer possible for major clubs to invest huge sums of money in buying big-name foreign aiders like Oscar. Therefore, in addition to the introduction of cost-effective foreign aid, some international players in their playing years have also become the target of the teams.
In the final round of league matches, both Dalian Ren and Nantong Zhiyun lost their matches, which prevented Dalian Ren, who were 2 points behind, from successfully fighting back and making it into the Chinese First Division. After Dalian Ren's official relegation, many of the team's key players are likely to move away from the team, with the most talked about being popular current international player Lin Liangming.
At the age of 26, Lin Liangming is in the prime of his career. Not only is he doing well in the league, but he is also highly regarded by coach Jankovic in the national team. This year, Lin Liangming has been selected for the national team several times, scoring goals in the national team's matches against Myanmar and Malaysia, and is in pretty good shape.
Now that the "boots" of Dalian's relegation have finally hit the ground, Lin Liangming has become the first "big fish" in the Chinese Super League's winter transfer window. Although Lin Liangming still has a one-year contract with the club, it's clear that he won't be able to play with the team in the Chinese league next season.
Earlier this year, there were many rumors about Lin Liangming's transfer, including some Chinese Super League giants such as Beijing Guoan. Li Ming, the general manager of Guoan FC, coached Lin Liangming when he was the head coach of the National Olympic team. Their mentor-pupil relationship, coupled with the fact that Li Ming himself is from Dalian, led to Lin Liangming almost joining Beijing Guoan at the beginning of this season.
However, with the persuasion of Xie Hui and the club, Lin Liangming finally stayed in Dalian and represented the team in the Chinese Super League for one season. With Dalian's relegation, the countdown was on for Lin Liangming's departure.
Although Guoan was once very close to Lin Liangming, their FIFA transfer ban has still not been lifted. If they can't pay back the wages owed to foreign aiders and foreign coaches, they can't sign anywhere in the world, which has created a lot of variables for Guoan to bring in Lin Liangming.
Apart from Beijing Guoan, another Chinese Super League giants are also planning to bring in Lin Liangming, they are this season's league champions - Shanghai Harbor. After winning the title again, Harbour have already secured a ticket to the AFC Champions League next season. In other words, they can participate in the AFC Champions League without having to play in the play-offs.
Playing on three fronts will be a great challenge for Harbor. They desperately need to strengthen the team's midfield. Lin Liangming is one of the best choices. Harbour veteran Wu Lei and Lin Liangming are the main left and right wingers of the team in the national football team respectively.
Wu Lei and Lin Liangming have a good relationship. They can help the club recruit Lin Liangming and replicate the national team's striker combination directly to Shanghai Seaport. From this perspective, Seaport is more likely to get Lin Liangming next season than Guoan.
Aside from Lin Liangming, Dalian has many other current international players who could leave the team next year, such as Wang Zhenao and Huang Jiahui, who performed well at the National Football Asian Games this year, and He Yupeng, who was just called up to the national team by Jankovic. They will all be targets for many Chinese Super League teams this winter.
