Chinese Super League clubs spend over £320milllion on new players as winter transfer window slams shut
Oscar cost the most with the Brazilian's fee coming to £60million to join Shanghai SIPG
THE Chinese Super League winter transfer window slammed shut yesterday with clubs spending a massive £325million on talent.
The total is £32million more than the previous figure of £293million and included 173 different transfers as clubs looked to strengthen for the end of the season.
And European clubs are likely to be relieved as no more of their stars can be tempted away to the Far East.
The big names that contributed to the massive rise in spending included Carlos Tevez, Axel Witsel, Odion Ighalo and Oscar - who on his own cost £60million.
Chinese clubs made no secret of their plans to raid European clubs for their top players with money no object.
And the likes of Shanghai SIPG and Hebei Fortune went all out spending £67m and £77m respectively ahead of the Chinese government's plan to clamp down on spending next season.
Measures are set to be put in place on limiting the number of foreign stars clubs can buy so local players can be given a chance to progress.
The CSL's most successful club only spent £20.4million on Chinese left-back Chengdong Zhang from rivals Chengdong Lightning.
But despite the millions spent by the clubs, results and their reputations in world football have failed to improve as of yet.
Tevez - the world's highest paid player - and his side Shanghai Shenhua were knocked out of the Asian Champions League in the qualifying round in his first game.