Football
Peter O'Rourke, Transfer correspondent 8y

PSG's Ezequiel Lavezzi lining up move to China rather than Chelsea - sources

Chelsea could miss out on Paris Saint-Germain attacker Ezequiel Lavezzi with the Argentine being lined up for a move to China, sources have told ESPN FC.

Lavezzi is out of contract at PSG at the end of the season and a number of clubs across Europe are keen on signing the attacker on a free transfer in the summer.

Chelsea have held talks with Lavezzi's agents over a possible move to Stamford Bridge, while Inter Milan are also interested in signing the former Napoli man. 

However, Lavezzi's suitors could be beaten to the player's signature with Guoan Beijing entering the race for Lavezzi.

Guoan Beijing are hoping to lure Lavezzi to China before their transfer window closes later this month as the Chinese Super League looks to flex its financial muscles.

Guoan Beijing would need a high-profile signing to keep pace with their rivals, with the likes of Guangzhou Evergrande bringing in Jackson Martinez from Atletico Madrid, Jiangsu Suning landing Ramires from Chelsea and Shanghai Shenhua adding Inter Milan's Fredy Guarin in recent weeks.

Guoan's fee for Lavezzi would be less than the others -- €6 million, sources say -- with just five months left on the South American's contract, after which the Chinese club could then offer him a bumper new deal.

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