Report: Shandong keen to complete Ashley Young coup before month's end

It's not just Wayne Rooney who's strongly linked to an East Asian move.

Shandong Luneng is determined to wrap up a deal for Manchester United's bit-part player Ashley Young before the Chinese transfer deadline of Feb. 28, according to ESPN FC's Peter O'Rourke.

Shandong, which currently boasts Graziano Pelle and Papiss Cisse in attack, is believed to have been pursuing the 31-year-old for some time, and is using contacts in England in a bid to speed up a potential transfer.

The East China outfit is managed by Felix Magath and begins its Super League campaign on March 4 with a visit from Tianjin Teda - the cross-city rival of Quanjian, the side rumoured to be eyeing Rooney. Shandong finished last term in a rather underwhelming 14th.

Young, a winger by trade, has been regularly deployed at right-back this season and has been picked from the first whistle on just eight occasions across all competitions. The 30-time Three Lions international has 18 months remaining on his contract, and would like to stay in Stretford if he receives assurances of more first-team inclusion.

The ex-Watford and Aston Villa man was chosen to start in the second leg of United's Europa League last-32 bout with Saint-Etienne on Wednesday. Jose Mourinho's lot took the field holding a 3-0 advantage from the first meeting.