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Chinese investment analysed
- Updated: July 21, 2016
With Wolves the latest club set to receive investment from China, Johnny Phillips examines the trend and what it means for the game…
Ordering a Chinese takeover has never seemed so easy.
Earlier this year, the Chinese Super League grabbed global headlines as it broke its transfer record four times in a single month, luring Ramires away from Chelsea and persuading Alex Teixeira to sign for Jiangsu Suning instead of Liverpool.
But in recent months, the focus has changed, with many Chinese companies and entrepreneurs linked with European clubs – especially those in England.
These are changing times and China is looking to play a huge role in shaping the future of football. Sports business journalist Mark Dreyer, a former colleague on Soccer Saturday, has spent the past eight years in Beijing and has documented much of this for China Sports Insider.
“The government has been actively looking for new areas to drive the economy and the sports sector is one that has been actively targeted,” Dreyer says.
“Chinese president – and football fan – Xi Jinping has announced a long-term vision to overhaul the football industry from top to bottom, with the aim of making China a true global soccer power by 2050.
“Chinese companies are being encouraged to become more global in their outlook and diversify their businesses to become more competitive both domestically and overseas.
“Many Chinese companies have been piling into football investment, both at home and abroad, not only because they want to be a part of China’s next growth story, but because they also want to maintain good government relations.”
Right now, the West Midlands appears to be a focal point for much of this interest, with Aston Villa recently bought, Wolves in the process of being taken over and West Brom the subject of on-going speculation.
“So little is known overseas about the vast majority of potential Chinese owners that rumours can spread like wildfire,” Dreyer adds. “China’s market is so big that investors could emerge from any sector, possibly venturing into sports for the first time.
“In fact, Chinese companies are making deals in …
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