Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is wary of the power of the Chinese Super League and feels that it will further inflate the transfer market.
Super League outfit Jiangsu Suning completed the £38.4m transfer of Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Alex Teixeira earlier today.
The transfer of the Brazilian from Ukraine to China broke the Asian transfer record for the third time in ten days.
Previously, Guangzhou Evergrande had smashed the transfer record when they signed Atletico Madrid striker Jackson Martinez for £31m.
Suning had also signed Chelsea’s Brazilian midfielder Ramires ten days ago for £25m, breaking the then transfer record.
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Wenger feels that China has the financial muscle to move a whole European league to Asia, but believes it all comes down to the desire that the country has.
He cited the example of Japan, who had started to sign big name players a few years ago, but they eventually slowed down.
The Frenchman feels that if there’s a strong political desire behind these recent big money transfers then it is a cause of worry for the European clubs.
Speaking in a press conference held this morning, Wenger said: “Yes, of course [Premier League clubs should be worried]. Because China looks to have the financial power to move a whole league of Europe to China.
“We are long enough in this job to know that it’s just a consequence of economic power and they have that.
“Will they sustain their desire to do it? Let’s remember, a few years ago, Japan started to do it and slowed down after.
“I don’t know how deep the desire in China is, but if there’s a very strong political desire, we should worry.”
The 66-year-old also believes that the transfer market, which is already inflated, will witness further rise in the transfer prices due to the involvement of China.
The Frenchman has also predicted that the £100m barrier in terms of transfer fees might soon be easy to reach.
“Yes, it could but I believe that anyway the inflation is on our doors with the next TV deal in the summer, it will move up again the transfer prices.
“I am sure that soon the £100m target will be easy to reach.”
