FC Koln rejected €50M Chinese offer for Modeste

Berlin - FC Koln says it rejected a bumper offer of €50 million from China for prolific French striker Anthony Modeste, but admits he could move to the Premier League.

The 28-year-old has scored 22 of Koln's 37 goals this season to leave his side sixth in Germany's top flight.

Modeste's contract runs until 2021 and Koln 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 Koln," 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, which has also been linked with Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney.

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 last Saturday's 4-2 win.