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48 Sport maltatoday, SATURDAY, 31 DECEMBER 2016 FOOTBALL Ronaldo subject of €300million bid Cristiano Ronaldo's agent has claimed Real Madrid have been offered €300million for the star forward by an unnamed Chinese Super League club, but said his client has no interest in the deal JORGE Mendes told Sky Sports Italia that Madrid had been of- fered a transfer fee worth the equivalent of £257million for the player, who would in turn receive over 100million euros - around £86million - a year in salary. "From China, they've offered 300m euros to Real Madrid and more than 100m per year to the player," Mendes said. "But money is not everything. Real Madrid is his life. Cristiano is happy at Real Madrid and it is im- possible to go to China." The transfer offer, if genuine, would be almost triple the world record 105million euros (£89.6mil- lion) Manchester United paid Ju- ventus for Paul Pogba in August. Ronaldo, who won his fourth Ballon d'Or earlier this month, signed a new contract at Madrid in November, extending his commit- ment to the club until 2021. But the cash-rich Chinese Super League has emerged as a major contender in the world transfer market with mega-money deals. Last week, Shanghai SIPG signed Brazil midfielder Oscar from Chelsea for around £52m, while on Thursday former Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez joined Shang- hai Greenland Shenhua where he will reportedly become the high- est paid player in the world on the equivalent of £615,000 a week. "The Chinese market is a new market," Mendes added. "They can buy a lot of players, but then again it is impossible to go for Ronaldo. Cristiano is the best player in the world and best ever. It is normal to have some offers. "He won the European Champi- onship with Portugal, it's like win- ning the Italian league with Genoa: they were not the favourite." Cristiano Ronaldo Chelsea's title to lose, says Arsenal's Wenger ARSENE Wenger believes the Premier League title is "Chelsea's to lose" and the Arsenal man- ager is ready to salute Antonio Conte's men should they surpass the Gunners' record of 14 consecutive top-flight victories. Chelsea lie six points clear of the field, nine ahead of fourth-placed Arsenal, and will strengthen their position further if they extend their club record winning streak to 13 by beat- ing Stoke City on Saturday. "At the moment Chelsea are the super-fa- vourites (for the title)," Wenger told a news conference on Friday. "But it is theirs to lose as we say here in England. "At the moment they have won it but they can still lose it. It's still a long way to go and so the head-to-head (matches) will have a vital impor- tance." If Chelsea win their next three matches against Stoke, Tottenham Hotspur and Leices- ter City they will surpass the record of con- secutive top-flight wins set by Wenger's team stretching across the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons. "If they do it, it's absolutely marvellous be- cause nobody expected that," Wenger said. "At the start of the season, they had a lit- tle bit of a dodgy start, but after, since they've changed their system, they are on a run where the confidence plays a big part." Records are there to be beaten and if some- body does better than you, you have to ac- knowledge it and say 'well done'." Wenger's side were the last to beat Chelsea in the league, thrashing them 3-0 in Septem- ber, a humbling reverse that prompted Conte to change his formation. They have not looked back since. "They have addressed their problems well. You have to give credit to Conte to find a solu- tion that has balanced well his team," Wenger said. "They bought David Luiz who stabilised their defensive record and I think overall they are the team that has been the most consistent un- til now." Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has re- covered from a hamstring injury for the Lon- don derby against Crystal Palace but winger Theo Walcott and left back Kieran Gibbs will miss Sunday's Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium. Gibbs injured his knee in Monday's win over West Bromwich Albion and Walcott remains sidelined with a calf problem. Wenger provided a positive update on striker Danny Welbeck's return to fitness following a long-term injury. "Welbeck is fit and sharp. He is in training and he looks quite good," Wenger said. Arsene Wenger