06.02.2016 14:04 h

Turkey's Yilmaz set for China move

Galatasaray's Turkey international Burak Yilmaz is set to join the growing list of players heading for China by signing for Beijing side Guoan, Turkish press reported on Saturday.

The 30-year-old, who had been a reported target of English side West Ham, will pen a four-year deal with Guoan where he will receive an annual salary of eight million euros ($8.9m), the reports claimed.

Yilmaz won the Turkish league title twice with Galatasaray in 2013 and 2015 and the Turkish Cup five times -- with Galatasaray (2014, 2015), Trabzonspor (2010) and Besiktas (2006, 2007).

The Turkish champions are heavily in debt and risk UEFA sanctions unless they get their finances in order.

The Chinese league has become one of the most attractive destinations in the winter break with Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian striker Alex Teixeira signing a Chinese record 50 million euro contract with Jiangsu Suning.

The monster move comes as China invests heavily in trying to build itself into a world-class football power.

According to the transfermarkt website, which tracks commercial dealings in the sport, clubs in the increasingly wealthy CSL have so far spent 258.9 million euros ($290million) in China's current transfer window, which runs until February 26.

Premier League clubs spent 247.3 million euros ($275million) in the European window, which closed earlier this week.