Although Shanghai Port managed to win the Chinese Super League title during the season, their performance in the league was flawed. Their early exits from the FA Cup and the AFC Champions League, and their sudden Waterloo in the second half of the season, where they were nearly overtaken by Shandong Taishan, were a series of twists and turns that raised questions from many fans and media.
In the face of this predicament, Harbour's head coach Javier has also become a target. Even though Seaport won the championship, the voice of the Spanish coach's dismissal remains unabated. Tianjin media recently reported that Javier's stay has been finalized. The Harbor Club has identified Javier's successor, who is Xie Hui, a famous coach in the Chinese Super League.
Xie Hui, a highly recognized local coach in the Chinese Super League, was previously relegated due to Dalian Ren's financial woes and a disorganized roster that saw the team underperform. Now that Dalian Ren has stepped into China's first division and the music department is rumored to be disbanding soon, many coaches and players are looking for new owners. Xie Hui, a former assistant coach at Harbour, has become a veteran coach with his extensive experience in the Chinese Super League in recent years. With the financial support from the music department, I believe Xie Hui will be able to lead the Harbor team to a new peak.
Harbor Club is not only making moves on the coaching bench, they are also preparing big moves in the player transfer market. Currently, they have targeted the Wuhan Sanzhen team which may be disbanded next year.
Since Wuhan Shangwen Group withdrawal, Wuhan three towns team has not been able to find a new investor. Although there is news that E-Tourism Investment may take over, it is still at the stage of intention and there is no substantial progress. The Wuhan Sports Bureau, which has been entrusted with the Three Towns team, has limited funds to bear the huge operating costs, and the main players of the first team may be sold off. Next season, the Three Towns team may compete with more young players, and Shanghai Port is taking this opportunity to seek talent.
Seaport are reportedly interested in signing two of Tri-Town's current international players - Wei Shihao and Xie Pengfei. Wei Shihao had played for Seaport in 2017 and held a place in the team with his talent and strength. Nowadays, Harbour's main players are getting older and are in dire need of wingers like Wei Shihao to boost their offense.
Xie Pengfei is also a popular winger with excellent organization and assisting skills, often delivering key passes to his teammates. For a striker like Wu Lei, the addition of Xie Pengfei will undoubtedly enrich the team's offense.
However, Seaport is not the only club interested in Wei Shihao and Xie Pengfei. Shandong Taishan and Shanghai Shenhua are also interested in these two players. Let's wait and see where they end up next January...
