China international defender Zheng Zhi is set to join Shandong Luneng from newly-crowned Chinese Super League champion Shenzhen Jianlibao.

Zheng, who was instrumental in China's run to the final of the Asian Cup last year, is expected to sign for the Jinan-based side next week in a transfer deal worth somewhere in the range of 10 to 12 million yuan (about 1.2-1.45 million US dollars).

Zheng had been linked with a move to Europe but was unable to secure a contract despite trials at German Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin and English Premiership outfit Southampton.

Shandong is seeking recruitments for the new season after finishing second to Shenzhen in the Super League last season. It made up for that disappointment by beating Shenzhen 2-0 in the China Super League Cup final and Sichuan Guancheng 2-1 in the China FA Cup final.

The FA Cup win earned Shandong a spot in this season's AFC Champions League, where it will play in Group F alongside J-League champion Yokohama F Marinos, Thai side BEC Tero Sasana and Indonesia's PSM Makassar.

Source: Xinhua