China

Crystal Palace captain linked with a shock move to Chinese Super League

Crystal Palace captain Scott Dann could be about to make a shock move to the Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan.

Dann has yet to find out whether he has a future under new Crystal Palace coach Frank de Boer, who has already spoken of his desire to spend big in the transfer market.

According to Daily Mail, Beijing Guoan are among the clubs who have expressed an interest in the 30-year-old defender, whose representatives have well-established links with the Chinese Super League.

If the deal is completed, Dann will be England’s first high-profile player to move to China. The only Englishman who has played in China is former Port Vale and Sheffield Wednesday striker Akpo Sodje, who joined Tianjin Teda in 2012.

Dann established himself at Birmingham and Blackburn Rovers before making the switch to Palace in 2014. He decided to sign a new contract at Selhurst Park the following year amid interest from Everton.