"Am I confident? Yeah, I'm confident," Gascoigne said on arrival at Beijing's Capital Airport.

"My physique is good. My football is good. I don't have any problems," said the 35-year-old, who has been without a club since leaving first division Burnley at the end of last season.

He was due to try out with first division side Liaoning Bodao later this week at the team's winter training camp on the southern island province of Hainan, Liaoning chairman Cao Guojun told Reuters .

Cao said Gascoigne had contacted his team via the agent for former Liaoning midfielder Li Tie, now playing for Everton in the English premier league.

"Gascoigne has been around a long time. We understand him very well," said Cao.

But he said no deal had been reached.

"For him, the first thing is whether or not he can adapt to our game. After all, he is getting old," said Cao. "We're looking more at his capabilities than at his reputation."

"If he can deal with everything, it is possible we'll sign him."

Gascoigne won 57 caps for his country.

He has played for Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough, Everton and Burnley and helped England reach the semi-finals of both the 1990 World Cup in Italy, famously shedding tears at their exit on penalties to Germany, and also of Euro 96.

However, the ball skills and vision which made him probably the most gifted player of his generation were also held back by a volatile temper and sporadic bouts of heavy drinking.

Cao could not confirm foreign and Chinese media reports saying Gascoigne could try out with four other clubs in China.

The ex-England star's possible move to the Chinese league would be the latest high-profile football exchange between China and England.

Three Chinese internationals now play in the premier league, including two at Everton, who have a shirt sponsorship deal with Chinese mobile phone maker Kejian.

Liaoning Bodao plays in Beijing. Cao moved his club to the capital from its hometown of Shenyang, in Liaoyang province, last year.