With the new season creeping up on us, the dynamics of Chengdu Rongcheng's reinforcements are in the spotlight. Timo Reichert's integration into the team, Yan Dinghao's rumored transfer, and Yang Shuai's return have added fuel to the fire. Although it's hard to tell the truth, Chengdu Rongcheng's ambition for the new season is evident.
The Chinese Super League teams are also making a lot of moves, as the competition for a spot in the AFC Champions League in Hibiscus City intensifies and seems to be one Leonardo short of sealing the deal.
The new season is even more of a battle, and the team's forward line is in desperate need of reinforcement.
In the 2023 season, the Chinese Super League teams are gradually bleeding back and their strength has not been fully released. In addition to traditional powerhouses such as Shanghai Port and Shandong Taishan, Chengdu Rongcheng is not the only team with ambitions for the new season.
Shanghai Shenhua brought in a large number of strong reinforcements, and with the sacking of manager Wu Jingui, it is clear that Shenhua is aiming higher. Henan is clearly aiming for the AFC Champions League and is full of confidence. Some teams that seem to be slow are actually secretly building up their strength.
The new season's five-foreign-aid policy puts pressure on Rongcheng. Last season, Ackerson and Zhou Dingyang were not restricted by the quota, but this season other teams can use five foreign aiders, the advantage is weakened. At present, the team has no breakthrough in the introduction of foreign aid, except for Reichert to replace Chad. The attacking line is in dire need of foreigners to strengthen it, and Leonardo has become a favorite.
Rongcheng's backline is stabilized with Reichert as the axis, assisted by players such as Li Yang, Zhou Dingyang in the midfield, and Yan Dinghao, Buytijiang and other strong players joining the lineup. But the offensive end still has a short board, Leonardo is just right.
However, the team already has five foreign players, including Felipe, Palacios, Andrigo and Romulo, as well as the newly joined Lechter. According to the "5 on 5" policy, it would be a waste to bring in more reinforcements. In this case, it seems impractical to bring in Leonardo.
But the possibility of bringing in Leonardo exists, and it's about Romulo's recovery. Romulo ruptured his ACL on June 3 of last year and will need at least six months to recover. Although he has improved, it is still unknown when he will return to the field. Romulo is likely to focus on recovery, and the Rongcheng offensive line still needs to be strengthened by foreign aid.
Of course, Leonardo was brought in only as a metaphor. After all, he is worth a lot of money. It would be best if Seo Jung-won could find a treasure in the K-League.
Overall, Hibiscus has a stable lineup in the middle and backcourt, with no need for major moves. However, on the attacking side, the squad is not deep enough and needs a shot in the arm. With Romulo's recovery uncertain, Sungai will need to find a breakthrough on the attacking end to qualify for the AFC Champions League.
