Chinese Super League club Henan Songshan Longmen have appointed Sergio Diaz as head coach after parting ways with Javier Pereira last week.

Diaz, who coached Kunshan FC to promotion to the CSL last season, had been tipped to fill the vacancy left by Pereira, who left Henan for Shanghai Port.

"Sergio Zarco Diaz of Spain takes the post as the head coach of Henan Songshan Longmen first team," the Henan side announced in a statement on Monday.

Upon signing his contract, Diaz joined up with Henan at their training ground, the club said.

His countryman Pereira had been with the Henan team in February for pre-season training before departing for Shanghai Port.

Shanghai Port chief executive Zhang Min denied suggestions that Pereira had been tapped up by the Shanghai side.

"These allegations are unfair to Javier, he could have chosen to earn more rather than coming to Shanghai," he said.