Soccer: Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua have enquired about signing Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka. The Frenchman's contract at Chelsea expires at the end of the season and he is expected to leave Stamford Bridge.

Reports in France claim Shenhua are willing to pay Anelka €10.6million-a-year to lure him to China.

Anelka has found himself down the pecking order in Andre Villas-Boas' plans this season, starting in only three Premier League matches.

Chelsea are believed to be willing to let the former Arsenal and Real Madrid player move on and reports in France claim Anelka could make the move to China as early as January.

A number of clubs are thought to be keen on signing Anelka with big-spending Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala, AC Milan and a host of Major League Soccer sides chasing the Frenchman's signature.

Shenhua have confirmed they have asked about Anelka's availability, but admit they face a fight to land the 32-year-old.

"It is so difficult. We actually asked about Anelka," a Shanghai Shenhua official told newspaper DF Daily. "We also know he could leave the Blues as a Bosman player next summer but there are so many clubs interested in him

"AC Milan, Russian clubs and some Gulf clubs. If we want to sign him finally, [his contract] would cost plenty."