D'Alessandro nears Shanghai move

Reports in China suggest that Internacional’s Argentine midfielder Andres D’Alessandro will join Shanghai Shenhua as early as next week.

D’Alessandro, 31, came close to joining the Chinese Super League side in January, but the Jinghua Times reports that a deal could be done in time for the opening of the transfer window on June 18, with a fee of US$7 million quoted.

The Argentine playmaker joined Inter in 2008, helping the team to both South American continental titles – the Copa Sudamericana and the Copa Libertadores.

With Shenhua desperate to sign a creative player in midfield, to serve the likes of Nicolas Anelka and possible Didier Drogba in attack, D’Alessandro is seen as the number one option, despite talk of a move for Real Madrid star Kaká.

D’Alessandro would follow compatriot Darío Conca in swapping Brazilian football for life in China, with the former-Fluminense midfielder making the switch to Guangzhou Evergrande last year.