Chinese Super League veteran Beijing Guoan departed at noon on a flight to Hainan to kick off a month-long winter training camp. Compared with the previous season's lineup, Guoan's lineup this time around has changed a lot, with several key players such as Yu Yang and Jin Pengxiang having left the team, and Dabrow staying in Europe, where the team is actively looking for a loan replacement. Zhang Yuning has not traveled with the team for some reason, while Yang Fan, a familiar face, has raised questions about his belonging in the new season.
Yang Fan's "Huaibei for orange" trip, in the Guoan team did not lose color. Last season, his performance at Guoan was mediocre, but he quickly found his form, and Andujar's tacit understanding is the key to the team's eighth place, reducing the number of goals conceded. In the season, he made 22 appearances, seven shutouts, averaging 0.7 interceptions, 1.5 steals and three saves, ranked tenth in steals and twentieth in saves among center backs. Under Andujar's tutelage, Yang Fan's physical confrontation and stealing ability has been maximized, and even when facing giants like Malcolm, he has not been at a significant disadvantage. It is worth mentioning that despite being penalized several times for nonchalant fouls, his overall performance was still impressive.
Yang Fan's loan spell with Jinmen Tigers has been highly publicized, and his improved form and the high loan fee Jinmen Tigers paid for him have convinced Tianjin fans that he will be a part of the team. However, his contract does not expire until the end of the year and he still belongs to Guoan. Where he goes in the new season will depend on the outcome of the negotiations between the two clubs. Yang Fan's winter training with the team may seem like a foregone conclusion, but in reality, there are still variables.
The Guoan defense has suffered a major blow in the offseason, with concerns over Yang Fan's position and quality of defense. Despite the fact that Guoan's first team and U21 team train together, Yang Fan's fate is still up in the air. It is reported that Guoan's first team and U21 team will train together to facilitate coach Stanley's talent selection.
For Zimmen Tigers, the club had always wanted Yang Fan to leave, and the successful renewal of Andujar's contract strengthened that resolve. During the loan discussion process, Yang Fan trained in Shanghai, but eventually returned to Guoan without affecting his joining.
Henan Songshan Dragons will assemble at Zhengzhou Zhongmou Jianye Football Training Base on February 15, domestic players will take a vacation and foreign aiders will return before 28th. Meanwhile, the team may bid farewell to the Navigation Stadium and move to Zhengzhou Olympic Sports Center.
The Zim Tigers are actively adjusting their plans for the new season after the CFA introduced a new policy for the 2023 season, including specifics such as retired veterans and players with expiring contracts.
