The race to land the services of Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka is over, and Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua has emerged as the top bidder, landing Anelka on a two-year contract.
Shenhua beat out teams from Russia, Qatar, as well as MLS club Montreal Impact, for the 32-year-old French striker, with reports estimating the deal will pay Anelka more than $300,000 a week.
Montreal was in the bidding for Anelka, but was nowhere close to having a bid anywhere in the vicinity of what the journeyman striker ultimately settled on.
Here are some other stories from the weekend to get your day going:
TIGRES WINS MEXICAN APERTURA TITLE
Though the match was marred by three red cards and a shaky performance by referee Marco Rodriguez, the Mexican Apertura Final second leg between Tigres and Santos Laguna still came down to being the justified coronation of Tigres as worthy champions after a 3-1 victory and 4-1 aggregate series victory.
The title was the first in 29 years for Tigres, which finished the year unbeaten at home. After posting a 1-0 victory in Torreon in the first leg, Tigres took control early after Santos had star goalkeeper Osvaldo Sanchez sent off for a red card challenge that resulted in a penalty kick (which was subsequently saved). Santos showed some life despite being a man down, scoring early to even the series.
Tigres ultimately responded with three goals to run away with the victory, as Chilean Hector Mancilla opened the scoring and Alan Pulido provided the final tally for the home side.
MONTERREY FALLS IN CLUB WORLD CUP
Mexican club and CONCACAF representative Monterrey saw its Club World Cup appearance get off to a disappointing start after a penalty kick shootout loss to Japanese champions Kashiwa Reysol on Sunday. The victory moved Kashiwa into a semifinal showdown against South American champions Santos, and leave Monterrey with a 5th-place match to play against African champions Esperance.
REAM STILL ON WEST BROM RADAR
Tim Ream's recent training stint with West Bromwich Albion went well enough to lead manager Roy Hodgson to express interesting in taking Ream on loan, though the chances of that actually happening are remote.
First, the New York Red Bulls would have to approve such an arrangement, something the club could be reluctant to do considering how important Ream is to the Red Bulls defense. Secondly, Ream does not automatically qualify for a UK work permit, and would have to file an appeal, something he would be far from guaranteed to win.
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What do you think of these developments? Shocked by the money China paid for Anelka? Impressed with Tigres' form this season? Even more disappointed that Real Salt Lake didn't beat Monterrey to reach the Club World Cup?
Share your thoughts below.