China's long-term soccer plan calls for the country to be a ­global force in the game by 2050, but if China's ­latest ­soccer project comes off, it would arguably become a ­major footballing power long before that.

Details came out at the end of last week regarding a new European soccer league, proposed by Wanda chairperson Wang Jianlin. Wang is not only China's richest man, but someone who has already backed his ­country's soccer drive to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars through FIFA sponsorship and club investment.

There will always be a ­certain amount of skepticism greeting any radical new ­proposal, but the Financial Times quoted a senior official from one of ­Europe's big five leagues - namely those in England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France - as saying that the idea was both "very well planned" and "realistic."

In addition to soccer investments, Wanda has also spent close to $2 billion on other sports properties in the last year alone, spending power that should make those in charge at UEFA very worried indeed.

With broadcast revenues already at eye-watering levels in the English Premier League, the promise of new riches would appeal more to those on the continent, but if the majority of Europe's top clubs were to get on board with Wang's new scheme, you can be sure the English clubs would also jump ship.

Continental triumphs are now regarded as the pinnacle for Europe's elite, with domestic titles often seen as routine for clubs like Real Madrid, ­Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-­Germain.

But with clubs already keen to play fewer games in a season - not more - something would have to give in the event of a new, expanded competition, which Wang would like to see replace both the Champions League and Europa League.

Italian star Graziano Pelle, whose goals helped to sink both Belgium and Spain at the recent European Championship, became the latest foreign star to move to China, swapping Southampton for Shandong Luneng earlier this week.

And while it is still unthinkable for a Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to move to China while still in his prime, transfer fees and wages continue to climb, with Hulk's move to Shanghai SIPG last month breaking the Chinese record for a fifth time this year alone.

In other words, China is controlling more and more of soccer's riches, and Europe's existing powerbrokers may be left with no choice but to play ball.

The author is a Beijing-based freelance writer. dreyermark@gmail.com