Report: Chelsea ace in line for £400,000-a-week deal, will trail only Messi and Ronaldo
By Dominic Toner
Chelsea midfielder Oscar is being offered a huge deal to make him the third highest-paid player in the world, according to a report.
The Times claim that Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG will offer the 25-year-old a £400,000-a-week deal to leave Stamford Bridge, which would give him an annual salary of £20million after tax.
The report details that Oscar will only be behind footballing icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of wages if he swapped the Premier League for China.
The Brazilian would be signing a lucrative deal with the Chinese club if he completes a reported £60million transfer in the January transfer window.
Oscar is currently struggling for minutes with Chelsea this season and has fallen down the pecking order under Italian manager Antonio Conte.
The attacking midfielder is currently behind the likes of Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas and N’Golo Kante, with youngster Nathaniel Chalobah also being introduced to the first team picture this season.
He does not appear to fit the Chelsea mould this campaign and his number 10 position doesn’t lend itself to the 3-4-3 formation used by Conte.
Oscar has made 203 appearances for the Blues since he signed in 2012 for £25million and won the Premier League, League Cup and Europa League.
The number eight will be fondly remember for his free-kick qualities if he leaves Stamford Bridge, as well as a stunning individual goal against Juventus on his Champions League debut.
He was once closely compared to Liverpool’s playmaker Philippe Coutinho, but it’s the latter who has been able to push on to another level in recent seasons.
In other Chelsea transfer news, Martin Tyler has given his verdict on the club’s reported midfielder deal.