Former Shanghai Shenhua players Wang Dalei and Dai Lin said Thursday in a talk show on PPTV they hoped their transfer to Shandong Luneng might prevent debt-ridden Shanghai from moving to Kunming.

Shenhua have reportedly been eyeing a move to Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, after a 30 million yuan ($4.95 million) bid from a Kunming-based company helped the club pull through some of its financial predicaments, ­according to a report on November 18 in the Guangzhou-based Soccer News newspaper.

Luneng announced the two players' transfers on ­early Thursday morning for an ­undisclosed transfer fee.

"I thought a lot after I got the offer from Luneng. If our leaving might give Shenhua a better situation, then I should make the sacrifice," said Dai, at Shenhua since 2009.

"Wang and I are still young, and we have dreams of ­being champions. During those years at Shenhua that expectation sagged."

During the last three Chinese Super League (CSL) seasons, Shenhua have finished consistently mid-table in the 16-team league.

Former captain Dai was a key player in Shenhua's defense. The 26-year-old can play central defender or ­defensive midfielder.

Wang, former starting goalkeeper of Shenhua, agreed with Dai that the transfer was aimed at rescuing Shenhua.

"Last year was the hardest time for Shenhua. Sometimes it was hard for the club to pay players … If Shenhua do move to Kunming, then the club cannot be named Shenhua," Wang said.

The word "Shen" in Shenhua refers to the city of Shanghai.

"The transfer fee may help Shenhua stay in Shanghai, and this is a negotiating issue. Although I haven't been told this, I know the club doesn't want to sell me. So we must be ­sacrificed to help Shenhua stay in Shanghai," the 24-year-old said.

Wang debuted in 2006 as the youngest goalkeeper in the Chinese league before being made ­captain of the Chinese national ­under-23 soccer team in 2011.

Ji'nan-based Luneng ­finished the 2013 CSL season in ­second place but 18 points adrift from winners Guangzhou Evergrande.

Luneng are aiming high ­domestically and intra-continentally for the upcoming ­season, with Cuca, former head coach of Atletico Mineiro of Brazil, at the helm.

Cuca joined the club after taking Atletico Mineiro to third at the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco, defeating Marcello Lippi's Evergrande 3-2 in the third-place playoff.

Luneng have been drawn into Group E of the 2014 Asian Champions League with South ­Korean league champions Pohang Steelers, Thai league champions Buriram United and fourth-placed J.League side Cerezo Osaka.

Global Times