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Chinese want to dump ‘patchy’ Tim Cahill

Getty

Getty

The Socceroos’ all-time leading goalscorer Tim Cahill is facing the chop from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua after joining on a multi-million deal in January.

Cahill, who has repeatedly turned away offers to play in the A-League, has had a disappointing start to life in China, scoring only one goal in 13 games for the battling team.

An agent acting for the Chinese Super League club told SBS club decision makers want to cut Cahill as their designated Asian player in favour of a South Korean attacking midfielder.

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“Unfortunately, the club is not doing well and with one goal this season, Tim Cahill has not been able to produce what the club was looking for from him,” the agent said.

“His form has been quite patchy and the club now wants to either loan him or perhaps even come to a mutual contract termination.”

Cahill, 35, signed a one year deal in January believed to be worth $4million USD and spoke hopefully of his future with the club when he returned to China this week after Socceroos duty.

“It’s been an up-and-down season but I think that’s the way it goes in China. I’ve only been there four months and I’ve learned a lot in the short space of time that I’ve been there,” Cahill said.

“I’m not going to say I’ve hit the ground running but I’m not going to say I haven’t put in a shift.

“All you can do is play – if you don’t play, that’s when it becomes a problem. But that’s what I do.

“My job is to be a professional and my job is to smash everything to do with football. I’ve played 13 or 14 games and my stats have been amazing.”

A report on the FFA website says Cahill’s representatives have heard nothing about Shanghai wanting to off load the veteran.

The lethal striker took to Instagram when back in China to insist he was focused on getting the team back on track:

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