January 26 2001

Fan Zhiyi

Crystal Palace star FAN ZHIYI has rejected an offer to sign a new deal at the club saying he wants to play in the Premiership. The Chinese internatinal was offered a three-year contract earning around £12,000 a week.

The popular Chinaman's contract expires at the end of next season but Palace chairman Simon Jordan is determined to keep the defender at the club.

It is reported that ZHIYI and Jordan will pick up the talks again in the near future and it is said that ZHIYI might sign a new deal if there's a clause allowing him to leave if a Premier League clubs shows interest included.

ZHIYI said: "I want to play in the Premiership. If I got the chance to move I would have to go. Money is not the problem. It is definitely not wages. It is purely ambition."