Recently appointed Crystal Palace boss Sam Allardyce revealed he had been approached about a move to China after his reign as England manager was brought to an abrupt end.

"Did I have an offer? Yes. I didn't go. I could have gone but I preferred to stay here," Allardyce said.

"It's difficult for a player or a club to turn that down, it's just the way of the world and changing forces in the football world.

"China has decided it wants to be a force and has decided the way to do it is to buy the best players and pay over the odds. Time will tell if it's the right thing to do.

"Money talks. But if we lose the top, top players from the Premier League then absolutely (it will suffer).

"We didn't want to lose Gareth Bale, or Ronaldo. But it's a small world today in football terms and players will pick up their boots and travel.

"What we have to do is encourage the growth of our younger players and produce better talent."