Defending Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande is reportedly planning to add Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva to their roster of foreign players as they defend their title in the 2017 CSL season starting this March.

Evergrande, who has won its sixth consecutive CSL title last season, will gun for a seventh straight trophy this year. The team currently has Colombian striker Jackson Martinez, Brazilians Paulinho, Ricardo Goulart, and Alan Carvalho, and South Korean defender Kim Hyung-il as its imports.

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An upgrade is evidently needed as other clubs have acquired top European talents this winter. Shanghai SIPG now boasts of former Chelsea midfielder Oscar with compatriots Hulk and Elkeson and Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho while Shanghai Shenhua has the world's highest-paid footballer, Carlos Tevez, with Giovanni Moreno, Fredy Guarin, Obafemi Martins, and Kim Kee-hee.

Jiangsu Suning, last season's runners-up, continue to employ former Chelsea stalwart Ramires, Alex Teixeira, Roger Martinez, and Hong Jeong-ho while Shandon Luneng is set to add Cheick Tiote with Papiss Cissé and Graziano Pellè at their side. Changchun Yatai recently signed Odion Ighalo from English Premier League club Watford.

With that, rumors are out that the Southern China Tigers are pursuing the 32-year-old Silva, who currently captains the four-straight French Ligue 1 champions, as per Ghana Soccernet.

However, Silva, who is also being targeted by Chelsea, Juventus, and former club AC Milan, is said to be keen on staying in France as he wants to continue his search for a Champions League trophy in Europe. His current contract with PSG extends up to the year 2020.

The Rio de Janeiro native told reporters late last month that he is "hoping to stay" in Paris beyond his contract because he is "very happy" with his situation right now, according to ESPN.

"I spent three years with AC Milan and Fluminense and it is already my fifth season in Paris," Silva said. "I am very happy. This is the best team I have played for."

"I am captain and that is something fantastic. I hope to stay at PSG for even longer because I do not want to end my career in 2020," he added.

TagsChinese Super League, Chinese Super League rumors, Chinese Super League rumors 2017, Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao FC, Thiago Silva, Paris Saint-Germain