New rules set by the Chinese Football Association ended the aspirations of the CSL club to lure one of four big-name forwards from Europe
Tianjin Quanjian owner Shu Yuhui confirmed the cashed-up Chinese Super League outfit had plans to sign Diego Costa, Karim Benzema, Edinson Cavani and Radamel Falcao until China's Football Association (CFA) made changes to the limit of foreigners.
Having already lured Belgium international Axel Witsel to the CSL, Tianjin - coached by former Real Madrid and Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro - had been linked with further moves for Chelsea's Costa & Co.
And Shu revealed Tianjin had been in talks with the Spain international, Real Madrid striker Benzema, Paris Saint-Germain's Cavani and Monaco hitman Falcao before the CFA announced new rules regarding foreign players, with teams in the CSL forced to name only three of their imports in starting XIs from this season.