China’s Tianjin Quanjin appear to have shut the door on a rumoured megamoney swoop for Chelsea’s Diego Costa or any other «excessive» spending, amid a government crackdown on high-priced foreign imports.

The Brazilian-born Spain striker has since January been the subject of repeated speculation that he could join Super League club Tianjin when China’s summer transfer window opens next month and become the latest in a wave of big-money foreign signings.

Tianjin issued a statement saying they have «had no communications or negotiations in any form with Diego Costa or his agent team regarding a transfer.»

Echoing the official talking points of China’s spending crackdown, the statement said the club would base any future transfers on the «sustainable development» of the Chinese Super League.

«(We) will not engage in any sort of unhealthy competition and will put a stop to any excessive pricing,» said the statement, issued Tuesday.

Various reports have speculated in recent months that a deal was brewing to pay Chelsea’s Costa tens of millions of dollars per year.

Coached by Italy’s World Cup champion Fabio Cannavaro, Tianjin have foreign talent to challenge for the Super League title but have so far failed to strike any mega-deals.

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