Obinna Obiefule’s future may well lie away from the BOV Premier League as The Times has learnt that the Nigerian striker is attracting the interest of Chinese club Guangdong Sunraycave FC.

Obiefule, who set a new all-time goal-scoring record in the Maltese championship last season when netting 34 goals during spells at Marsaxlokk and Mosta, has been invited by the China League One outfit for a trial with a view to offering him a contract.

Guangdong, who play in the second tier of the Chinese national league, have already acquired the necessary travelling documents for Obiefule, 24, to make the long trip to Asia and start his trial.

Last season, Guangdong missed out on promotion to the Super League by a single point after finishing third in the final standings.

They are currently trailing in the race for the top two places in the new season as they are ninth with 15 points from nine matches.

Shanghai Tellace are topping the standings on 24 points, three ahead of Tianjin Songjiang.

The Super League in China is experiencing a boom with the huge investments of the country’s top businessmen in the game and the arrival of some high-profile players and coaches.

Last month, former Italy World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi agreed to take over at Guangzhou Evergrande.

On Wednesday, Sergio Batista, ex-Argentina coach, took over at Shanghai Shenhua who have Nicolas Anelka in their ranks and are engaged in talks with Didier Drogba to join them this summer.

Meanwhile, informed sources have told The Times that Obiefule is also being courted by Maccabi Haifa.

However, talks with the Israeli club are still at a preliminary stage.

Apart from his spell in Malta, Obiefule, who had started playing in his homeland with Eleven Planners, also figured in the Norwegian league with FC Thisted.