Carlos Tevez could be offered a new £34m-a-year contract despite flopping at Shanghai Shenhua

The 33-year-old has struggled since moving to China from Boca Juniors and was recently left out of the Shenhua squad for both legs of the Chinese FA Cup final

Shanghai Shenhua are contemplating extending Carlos Tevez’s £650k-a-week contract – despite the Argentinian scoring just four times in 16 Chinese Super League matches.

The 33-year-old has struggled since moving to China from Boca Juniors and was recently left out of the Shenhua squad for both legs of the Chinese FA Cup final against bitter rivals Shanghai SIPG.

Shenhua didn’t much miss Tevez either, as they beat Andre Villas-Boas’s SIPG side on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate draw.

But Shenhua deputy general manager Zhou Jun nevertheless hinted that the club were about to offer an extension to Tevez, 33.

“We decided to buy Tevez because the AFC Champions League qualifying phase was about to begin and at that time the new rules [to curb mega signings] did not come to light,” he told Shanghai TV.

“Tevez was playing quite well in both Boca Juniors and Juventus. And since there was an arms race going on [in the CSL], our club need a player who has a reputation and universal appeal.

“Of course, in the end, he is not living up to those expectations. But he keeps working very hard to be in contention to play.

“As for whether or not to extend his contract next year, it has to be a mutual choice. His future hinges on the outcome of further negotiations between the two parties.”