Australian midfielder Erik Paartalu is believed to be chasing a move to Japan following his exit from China.
The 27-year old former Brisbane Roar star has departed Tianjin Teda despite having two years remaining on his contract after club chairman Li Guangyi terminated his deal.
Paartalu, who starred for Tianjin last season, is now seeking a move to the J.League according to his agent David O'Keefe.
"This is a big year for all players on the fringes of the Socceroos and Erik feels that playing in Japan would give him the best possible chance of getting picked," O'Keefe told SBS of the two-times capped Australian international.
"We are hopeful that something can be finalised in the next week or so, and there is also interest from China, Korea and Thailand but his top priority is Japan because of the high standard of the competition there.
"Obviously if that doesn't happen then he will assess his options and a return home would then be a distinct possibility but it's certainly not his first choice because he wants to continue to do well in Asia and build on what he has achieved so far."
