Thursday, November 15, 2012

Nicolas Anelka Keen On Liverpool Return

Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka is eyeing a return to the Premier League after struggling to settle in China, with his preferred choice of transfer being Liverpool, according to The Sun.

The 33-year-old moved to Shanghai Shenhua in January 2012, where he was briefly named player-manager following the sacking of Jean Tigana.

In the summer, Anelka was joined by former Stamford Bridge team-mate Didier Drogba, who arrived in the Far East upon the completion of his Chelsea contract, after helping Roberto Di Matteo deliver the Champions League trophy, following the Blues' European final penalty shoot-out success over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Drogba has embraced the change in culture, while Anelka has failed to acclimatize to his new surroundings fully, and reportedly longs for a move back to England, with a number of Premier League clubs circling.

West Ham were earlier this week linked with a move for the Frenchman, and now QPR have been credited with an interest in bringing him in, to help fire the club away from relegation danger.

Loftus Road owner Tony Fernandes has spent nearly £22million on 12 players in a bid to keep the Hoops in the top-flight, but with Anelka earning a reported £250,000-a-week in China, even the Formula One tycoon will struggle to match his wages.

Liverpool would be even more unlikely to pay anywhere near that salary, even if Brendan Rodgers is desperate for attacking reinforcements at Anfield in January.

Luis Suarez is currently the only fit first-team striker on Merseyside, following the recent injury to Fabio Borini, who is facing a three-month spell on the sidelines.

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