Carlton Palmer has told talkSPORT that Wayne Rooney should not move to the Chinese Super League and said he is still capable of playing for a top club in the Premier League.
Rooney's agent Paul Stretford is reportedly in China trying to secure a move for the striker either ahead of their transfer deadline on Feb. 28 or for at the end of the season.
Former England international and Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Palmer runs a football academy in Shanghai, and added that he does not understand Oscar's decision to leave Chelsea and join Shanghai SIPG.
"The league is poor. It's poor. The J-League in Japan is better than this league," he said. "The young players who are coming out here are effectively ending their careers.
"Oscar is here, his kids are at our school, but I can't understand it at 25. I don't get it. I understand if you're 35 and you're at the end of your career, but he's 25. Why? He's got to have been on £150,000-£200,000 at Chelsea and he was testing his ability in a tough league.
"I've seen the rumours about Rooney's agent coming out here, but I really don't see Wayne doing that.
"I think he's better than that, I think he's got more to offer in the Premier League. If Manchester United don't want him, plenty of other clubs will.
"A club like Everton would still look at taking Wayne, and if I was any of those top six of seven clubs in the Premier League I would look at taking him."
Rooney, 31, has seen his playing time restricted this season leading to speculation of a move away from Old Trafford, but Palmer thinks a move to Major League Soccer would represent a better option than China.
"When Wayne is about 35 or 36 and has nothing more to offer [at the top level] then come and earn a few quid with the silly money that's on offer here," he added.
"But if I was him, I would do what Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard did -- have a swansong in America when he's ready."