Shanghai United owner Zhu Jun will buy a majority share in city rivals Shanghai Shenhua and merge the two clubs, according to a report in the Beijing Youth Daily on Thursday.

Zhu Jun

The new club will play in the Chinese Super League (CSL), under the name of Shenhua, who finished second in the league last season and qualified for the Asian Champions League while United cane seventh.

Zhu, who owns one of China's biggest online gaming companies The9 Limited, would not discuss the report of his planned 150 million yuan ($19.37 million) investment in Shenhua.

Two-time Chinese champions Shenhua are scheduled to play Australia's Sydney United in their opening Asian Champions League Group E fixture on March 3.
 
(China Daily via Reuters February 9, 2007)