Cologne reject €50 million Chinese offer for Anthony Modeste
Cologne say they rejected a bumper offer of 50 million euros ($54 million) from China for prolific French striker Anthony Modeste -- but admit he could move to the English Premier League.
Cologne say they rejected a bumper offer of €50 million from China for prolific French striker Anthony Modeste but admit he could move to the English Premier League.
The 28-year-old has scored 22 of Cologne's 37 goals this season to leave his side sixth in Germany's top flight.
Modeste's contract runs until 2021 and Cologne vice president Toni Schumacher said: "We are happy that we have turned down the offer from China.
"First it was for 40 million, then 50 million, but he left no one in doubt that he wants to stay with Cologne," Schumacher told Sky Sport News on Thursday.
He did not say which team made the offer, but reports say it was Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian, who have also been linked with Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney.
Potential Premier League move
Ex-Germany goalkeeper Schumacher, 63, said he could see Modeste moving to England.
"He is only 28 and it would have been far too soon to go to China," said Schumacher.
"But I could imagine him going to England and creating a furore there."
Modeste is vying with Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski to be the German league's top scorer this season.
He hit a hat-trick -- his second in the Bundesliga this season -- against Hertha Berlin in Saturday's 4-2 win.