Dalian given FIFA deadline to settle Sun's fee with Palace

Dalian Wanda have been told by FIFA to pay a US$1 million transfer fee for international Sun Jihai or else the midfielder would be allowed to return to English side Crystal Palace.

First Division Palace were forced to sell Sun back to Dalian in July as the club faced bankruptcy and were unable to even meet players' wages.

But the Eagles administrator, Simon Paterson, said now the club's financial problems had been resolved they would prefer to see the player return rather than receive the transfer fee.

'We sold him out of necessity in July because our situation then was rather critical but now our problems have been resolved we would rather have him back,' Paterson said.

'He's rather a good player, in fact he's superb.' The deal with Dalian followed an approach from the Chinese club, who were facing problems on the pitch and were languishing at the bottom of the league.

'Sun had an awful lot of pressure put on him to go back to his old club from the Mayor of Dalian and the Chinese FA. I think he would have rather stayed here,' Paterson said.