Some people blamed Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande for jacking up the prices.

Evergrande, crowned the CSL title five times in a run since its promotion to the top league in 2011, has been known for its huge spendings on the transfer market.

"In the past few years, Evergrande has spent a great deal to buy players at home and abroad. Now its hoarding shows its value as other clubs are fighting for these players," said Chinanews.com.

Last Friday, Evergrande sold 31-year-old international midfielder Zhao Xuri to Quanjian on a reported transfer fee of no less than 70 million yuan. The Guangzhou team brought in Zhao four years ago with 7 million.

As a matter of fact, Chinese clubs' shopping spree was not limited to the domestic market as they also are generous buyers in Europe and South America, especially in Brazil.

In 2011, Dario Conca's decision to join Evergrande attracted little fanfare in a football world whose axis has always been heavily tilted towards Europe.

Five years later, the Argentine playmaker's 9.1 million euros move from Brazil's Fluminense can be seen as a defining moment in the rapid emergence of the CSL.

A steady stream of Brazilians have followed in Conca's footsteps, with the number multiplying in recent months.

Among current and former Brazil internationals lured by Chinese clubs in the past year are Diego Tardelli (Shandong Luneng), Robinho (Guangzhou Evergrande), Paulinho (Guangzhou Evergrande), Ricardo Goulart (Guangzhou Evergrande), Jadson (Tianjin Songjiang), Luis Fabiano (Tianjin Songjiang) and Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan).

According to Tardelli, the stratospheric salaries paid by Chinese clubs have made their proposals too good to refuse.

"It changes your financial life," he told Globoesporte. "It's great to play in Brazil with the fans and the constant pressure to perform. But the salaries in China are higher and they are paid on time. I'm 30 years old and I have to think about my future."