Officials from Shanghai Shenhua SVA ruled out the possibility of an extension of defender Du Wei's probation period at Scottish league champion Celtic FC, claiming that the Chinese Super League club would be more than happy to have its former captain back.

　　Wu ji'nan, general manager of Shenhua, told the local press that the 24-year-old was still contracted to Shenhua and is exactly what the team needs for the upcoming new season campaign.

　　Shenhua had agreed to release Du on a four-month loan deal for US$200,000 that runs out tomorrow. It was to be followed by a permanent transfer in which Shenhua stood to pocket US$1.1 million.

　　But after a less-than-impressive debut the weekend before last, Du found his prospects with the Glasgow side in doubt as Celtic suggested a revision of the original deal, intending to extend the probation period until the end of the season.

　　"To go back on what we had agreed upon is not one of our option," Wu was quoted as saying by the Oriental Morning Post newspaper. "In addition, Shenhua is literally in need of Du's service for our challenge for the title next season."

　　In fact, Shenhua has been finding it tough to replenish its rearguard.

　　The club initially planned to replace the void left by Du with his fellow Chinese international Li Weifeng from Shenzhen Jianlibao, only to find itself mired in a long drawn out bargaining process with Shenzhen over the transfer fee.

　　With li's move looking less likely to materialize, Shenhua has naturally turned to Du, who had spent his entire career with the local powerhouse before moving to Glasgow.