Recent reports have emerged that Chinese Super League squad Beijing Guoan FC is preparing to aggressively raid English Premier League club Manchester City this summer as the China top flight is allegedly set to begin targeting big-name players in England.

The names of Yaya Touré, Sergio Agüero, and David Silva were mentioned by the Manchester Evening News in a report that says Beijing Guoan is "poised to raid Manchester City after drawing up a short list of targets from Pep Guardiola's squad".

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Last month, reports went out that the 33-year-old Touré turned down a £577,000 weekly wage offer from an unnamed CSL squad to stay at the Etihad, which would have made him the highest-paid football player in the world if he had accepted it.

City is scheduled to visit Beijing in July to square off with cross-city rivals Manchester United in the annual International Champions Cup (ICC) friendly tournament and that could be the venue the Imperial Guards are looking for to send their intentions to Guardiola's side.

ICC head organizer Eric Gao was the one who disclosed Beijing's plan of drawing up a "short list of top players from Manchester City who interest them", as per 90min.

"I cannot tell you any of their names as it would not be the opportune time to do so," Gao said. "I am working closely with the Beijing and Shanghai clubs on targeting players. In terms of the Premier League, there are no limits. Chinese clubs will pay players two or three times more than they are at present."

"The players would make more money at Chinese clubs," he added.

The CSL once again smashed the country's transfer record of €50 million set in February with the recent signing of Brazilian winger Hulk from Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg for €55 million.

It was the fifth time the record was broken this year and analysts believe that there will be more to come before the season closes.

TagsChina Football, Chinese Super League, Chinese Super League 2016, Manchester City, beijing guoan fc