Guus Hiddink reveals approach from Chinese league

LONDON

Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink revealed on Friday that he had been approached to manage in the Chinese Super League.

Hiddink returned to Stamford Bridge for his second spell as Chelsea caretaker in December following Jose Mourinho's sacking, but the veteran Dutch coach was also offered the chance of taking a job with a team in the cash-rich Chinese league.

"I had some possibilities to go there in the recent past," Hiddink told reporters without expanding any further.

Jiangsu Suning are managed by former Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu, while Sven Goran Eriksson and Luis Felipe Scolari are also bosses in China.

Ramires was sold to Chinese side Jiangsu Suning by Chelsea last month during the January transfer window and Brazilian midfielder Alex Teixeira moved to the same club for 50 million euros (£38.5 million, $56 million) to become China's record signing.

(READ: Shaktar's Teixeira in record move to China)

China's spending in its current transfer period, which closes on February 26, to 258.9 million euros and Hiddink knows that makes the country an attractive option for many.

However, the former South Korea coach insists the Premier League, which has a global appeal and will soon have a further influx of cash from the new broadcast coverage deal, remains one of the sport's top financial superpowers.

"Of course when you travel around the world, the Premier League is so attractive, attracting a lot of people," Hiddink said.

"In the biggest cities to the smallest villages, wherever in the world there is a satellite showing Premier League.

"(And) clubs in England cannot complain about having no income in the near future."