On April 29, the winter transfer window for the 2022 season of the Chinese Super League officially closed, and the destination of Guangzhou's players became the focus. Numerous stars such as Zhang Linpeng, Gao Junyi and Liao Lisheng have returned to the team, resulting in a major change in the lineup.
However, the retention of core players such as Wei Shihao and the potential retention of naturalized player Jiang Guangtai has brought new hope to Guangzhou. At the same time, Guangzhou decided to play the new Chinese Super League season with an all-Chinese squad due to operational difficulties, which undoubtedly increased the difficulty of the transfer.
Zhang Linpeng, the veteran player who won eight Chinese Super League titles and two Asian Championships, will return to Shanghai Harbour after 11 years with Guangzhou. He had a brilliant career with Guangzhou, dedicating his best youth to the city.
It is worth mentioning that Zhang Linpeng conceded a penalty in the final round of last season's Chinese Super League, causing the team to lose the league's second place. After the match, he thanked the Guangzhou fans with tears in his eyes for supporting him in the storm, and now this "desperate man" will also say goodbye reluctantly.
In addition to Zhang Linpeng, Gao Zhunyi, He Chao, Liu Dangzuo and Deng Hanwen have all joined Chinese Super League promotion rivals Wuhan Sanzhen, Liao Lixiang has moved to defending champions Shandong Taishan, and Zhong Yihao has been transferred to Henan Songshan Longmen. These players are in their prime, with Zhang Linpeng, Gao Junyi and Liu Dengzuo all selected for the National Football League's World Qualifying 12.
It is reported that all of these players parted ways with the club peacefully and resumed their free agency with the waiver of salary arrears and remaining contracts. Naturalized player Jiang Guangtai previously applied to the Arbitration Commission of the Football Association for restoration of free agency on the grounds of salary arrears, which has yet to be concluded and the two sides are still in the process of negotiation.
As the winter transfer window for the 2022 Chinese Super League season has closed, Jiang Guangda, who failed to complete the transfer, is too likely to stay with the team, and Guangzhou is hoping to keep him with the team in the Chinese Super League. In terms of internal recruitment, Guangzhou only signed 21-year-old defender Liang Peiwen of Hubei Young Stars before the winter transfer window closed.
Despite the serious loss of the main players, Guangzhou team still has Wei Shihao, Yang Liyu, Zhang Xiuwei, Yan Dinghao, Li Xuepeng and Wu Shaochong confirmed to stay in the team, coupled with last season's emergence of new stars such as Ling Jie, Tan Kayuan and Hou Yu, and if you can fight for Jiang Guangtai to continue to play, the Guangzhou team's main team has gradually become clear, and the overall point of view of the new season is still have the strength of the foothold in the Chinese Super League.
