Benteke rejected £45m Chinese offer to join Crystal Palace

Belgian international Christian Benteke is reported to have snubbed a big-money move to China to stay put in the Premier League. The 25-year-old left Liverpool to join Crystal Palace for an initial sum of £27m this summer.

Widespread sources suggest that the Reds had accepted a £45m offer from a Chinese Super League club in January only to see the player reject advances from the unnamed side.

The striker followed to struggle for playing time during the rest of the campaign, and was eventually shipped to the Eagles in the final days of the summer transfer window.

Benteke is Crystal Palace's record signing having beaten the £13m fee paid to recruit Andros Townsend from Newcastle United over the summer. He made his league debut in the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth at Selhurst Park last month.