The City Football Group, an Abu Dhabi-based company, that owns a majority stake in Manchester City football club, is planning to buy a franchise in the Chinese Super League. 

The move is in line with the company's aim to buy one football team in each continent under the brand name 'Manchester City,' creating a unique brand identity for the premier league club across the world.

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In pursuit of this ambitious aim, the company has already purchased New York City FC in MLS, Melbourne City in the Australian A-League and has a minority stake in Yokohama F Marinos in Japanese J-League.

China's Shanghai City has been touted as the next city to join this list of cities, according to reports from Etihad Stadium - home of Manchester City Club. However, there has been no confirmation on this.

City Football Group developed a Chinese link in December last year after Chinese consortium CMC had invested £265m in the company.

Football pundits claim that China, football's biggest emerging market, was always one of the targets in the company's expansion plan.

Over last two months, China's domestic league - the Chinese Super League - has been at the centre of global football, with Chinese clubs setting new transfer records in a bid to attract big football stars.  

Ezequiel Lavezzi, Ramires, Alex Teixeira and Jackson Martinez are some of the big stars that were besigned by Chinese clubs in the January transfer window.

Meanwhile, Manchester city continues to struggle in the premier league this season. The club is currently fourth in the league table, 12 points adrift of league leader Leicester City. Most football pundits have already written off Manchester city's chances of winning the league title this season.

However, City's hope for silverware this season is still alive, as they have reached the quarterfinal stage of UEFA Champions league. Manchester City has been drawn against PSG in the Champions League quarter-finals.          

TagsChinese Super League, Manchester City, City Football Group, Chinese football