Chelsea FC Transfer Rumours: Nicolas Anelka Close To China Move

We're all well aware that Nicolas Anelka won't be with us for very much longer. The striker, who arrived from Bolton Wanderers in 2008, has been marginalised this season following the arrival of Andre Villas-Boas and is no longer training with the first team after handing in a transfer request.

What's perhaps less clear is where he's going to end up - there's been talk of Ligue 1, of MLS, and of the Chinese Super League. I hope you all can forgive me for my complete lack of knowledge about Chinese football, but I didn't really have any idea how seriously to take the last option. Turns out I should have been taking it super-seriously! The more you know!

The BBC is reporting that talks between Chelsea and Shanghai Shenhua over Anelka's transfer are fairly advanced, and that Nico will make his decision on whether to make the switch as early as next week. If that falls through, MLS expansion team Montreal Impact have also confirmed that they've been in contact with the 32-year-old in hopes of acquiring a top-player for their first season in the league.

There's no mention of a transfer fee, but I can't imagine it'd be that much - something in the £3-5M range sounds about right off the top of my head.