With only ten days left to go before the winter transfer window of the Chinese Super League in January next year, Shandong Taishan has already taken a step ahead and locked up a powerful foreign aid.
Following the introduction of Brazilian senior midfielder Zeca, Taishan recently reached an agreement with Georgian midfielder Kazashvili. The 30-year-old sidekick plays a key role on the field with his exceptional attacking ability.
Taesan coach Choi Kang-hee is known for his two-winged tactics, specializing in launching attacks from the side and looking for a fatal strike from a high center forward. The wingers and high centers have become indispensable elements of his tactical system.
The signing of Zeca was to make up for the lack of height in the team's forward line. Although Pato had played in Indonesia, but failed to prove himself, the introduction of the summer now seems to become a pity. The group stage of the AFC Champions League has not yet ended, Pato has left the team to recuperate from injuries, and was abandoned by Choi Kang-hee.
Fellaini's departure leaves Taishan without the last high point in their forward line, and Zeca's arrival fills that void. The addition of Kazashvili is designed to enhance the Taishan side's attacking and passing game.
Taishan is not short of wingers, and Cressan is particularly good in that position. Together with two international wingers, Chen Pu and Liu Binbin, as well as the naturalized player Fernando, who is known as the "little motorcycle", the strength of the team should not be underestimated.
Kressan's solid starting position seems to be untouchable, and the addition of Kazashvili could cost one of Chen Pu or Liu Binbin a chance to start. Both players have been selected for the national team many times, but their performance in the national team is not ideal, Liu Binbin's lack of offense, Chen Pu's inexperience, resulting in frequent mistakes, and coach Jankovic's trust in him decreases.
Both players have not fully recovered from their return to Taishan, and Choi Kang-hee did not include them in his starting lineup for the AFC Champions League group stage. It seems that Kazashvili is expected to take his place next season. It will be up to Choi Kang-hee to make the decision as to who will lose his place.
The arrival of Kazashvili also hinted at an uncertain future for Fernando. Delgado's value to Taishan is obvious next year when he will join as an in-form player in the Chinese Super League, where teams can only keep one non-blood naturalized player.
The arrival of Zeca and Kazashvili signals a drastic change in Shandong Taishan's starting lineup for next season, with some players or adjustments to the starting lineup. Let's look forward to this change and see who will be the next player to lose his starting...
