Anelka set for Chinese switch

Shanghai Shenhua are confident Nicolas Anelka will join the club on a three-year contract under expected new coach Jean Tigana.

Chelsea have given the French striker permission to leave the club in January following four years at Stamford Bridge, after the 32-year-old handed in a transfer request.

The Chinese Super League’s media officer Ma Yue insists talks with Anelka’s representatives are making good progress and that the club would like to secure his services on a three-year deal.

“It will be a three-year contract and will involve both football and commercial co-operation,” he told Shanghai Daily.

The club are expected also to sign former Fulham and Lyon coach Tigana and it is believed the Frenchman plans on bringing his own assistants.

While it has not been officially confirmed, Ma is confident that they will secure the former France midfielder as manager, and believes his arrival could make it easier to convince Anelka to play in China, following reports that Championship side West Ham are also interested.

Anelka signed for the Blues in January 2008 from Bolton, but new Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has looked elsewhere for goals this season, with the likes of Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge and Didier Drogba all above him in the picking order.