Cangzhou Lions' leader Škorić has recently severed ties with the team over salary issues, an incident that has once again brought to the forefront the issue of unpaid wages, a common problem faced by Chinese Super League teams. At the same time, Szkoric's teammate, the equally foreign Lokadia, is also preparing to leave the team. The latest reports in the international media indicate that Locadia has contacted a new team in Turkey, making it clear that he has no intention of renewing his contract with the Cangzhou Lions. The top Chinese Super League star will officially bid farewell to Chinese soccer at the end of the year.
Turkish media revealed that Locadia's agent is in Turkey to help him negotiate with his new owner, making it clear that he is eager to return to Europe. Locadia's contract with the Cangzhou Lions will cease to exist once this season's Chinese Super League ends, so a new club could sign him without paying a transfer fee. Currently, the closest thing to Locadia could be Turkish Super League giants Fenerbahce, who see him as a potential replacement for Batshuayi. In the current season, Locadia has been a key attacker for Cangzhou Lions, contributing 7 goals and 6 assists in 24 games. However, the Cangzhou Lions have been in a worrying financial situation for the past two years. Earlier this year, the team lost key center Jose due to unpaid wages, while Školjic also left the team for the same reason. Faced with the current situation, Cangzhou Lions seemed to have trouble parting with Locadia, but the players chose a new path after their contracts expired - a surprising decision that begs the question of whether wage arrears and other disputes also lurked behind the scenes. Locadia, 29, was a former member of the Dutch national youth setup and one of the few players in the Super League with deep credentials. He has twice helped PSV Eindhoven win the Dutch Eredivisie title and joined Premier League side Brighton in 2018 for a €15 million transfer fee. Although Lokadia's performance and statistics are quite eye-catching as a foreigner for a mid- to lower-tier team like Cangzhou Lions in this season's Chinese Super League, it is indeed not easy for a foreigner with both popularity and strength to gain a long-term foothold in the current Chinese Super League environment.
