Since Turkey's VakifBank announced last week that Zhu Ting will take a year-long leave from the club and return to China in preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, discussions arose around which Chinese team the volleyball spiker will join next season.

Standing at 1.98m and at 24 of age, Zhu is a formidable force in the women's game. But just like she said when helping VakifBank defend their league championship a while ago, "Volleyball is a team sport and every win is attributable to everyone in the team."

In order to defend the Olympic title the Chinese female volleyball team won in Rio in 2016, having Zhu on their roster is far from enough for Team China. Thus, matching Zhu with other players for the national team and making sure everyone in the team has their contributions to make are crucial for the team leading up to the Olympics. And such logic is also applicable to which club team Zhu will join next season.

Having competed overseas at the sport's highest level for the past three seasons, Zhu has adapted to the highest-caliber tactics, techniques and physical requirements. It might take her just a short while to adapt to the pace of the China Volleyball League.

To make her transition as smooth as possible, she might choose a Chinese club team which already boasts a readily satisfactory squad. Therefore, a team with, for instance, other national players on the roster might pop up as a potential choice for Zhu.

Such a choice also means that Zhu will have more time to practice and get to know her fellow players in the national team. If the point of Zhu's return is competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, such practicing opportunity would be more than ideal.

In order to prepare for the Olympics, it is crucial for Zhu to save her strength whenever she can and keep in good shape. Therefore, having teammates who can share Zhu's burden is a good consideration when it comes to team selection.

The Tianjin women's volleyball team's rising star Li Yingying is an ideal choice in that regard. The 18-year-old player led China Women's Volleyball Super League last season in scoring, spiking and serving and is believed to have what it takes to become the next Zhu.

If Zhu teams up with Li in China's Volleyball League next season leading up to Olympics, the two will have more time to get to know each other and the young Li will take over offense performance whenever necessary for Zhu to save strength.

Over her three overseas seasons, Zhu Ting became the world's highest-paid volleyball player. She was earning 1.5 million euros annually after making over one million euros in each of her first two years with VakifBank.

Even though she said it did not make her feel special to be the world's most paid volleyball player, the amount a professional player receives is a direct reflection of their value on court. Therefore, money matters when it comes to which Chinese team might be a good fit for Zhu.

With solid financial resources, a team is more likely to recruit other high-level players which in return, make it an ideal choice for Zhu.

There is no doubt that Zhu is going to be one of the most wanted players in China's Volleyball League and would increase the competitiveness of whichever team she eventually joins. However, as Zhu's main goal for coming back home is to better prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, her team selection grants thorough contemplation and strategic consideration.