Everton handed Li Tie warning
The defensive midfielder, who was on loan from Liaoning for the whole Premiership season, has performed superbly for Everton and helped the club to clinch seventh spot, earning himself a nomination for Asian Player of the Year along the way.
He recently returned to China to train with the national squad, and has admitted that he wants to stay at Goodison Park.
However, Everton are still reluctant to meet Liaoning's asking price of £1.5 million, although negotiations are ongoing.
Because of the Toffees' failure to meet the asking price thus far, speculation in China has linked other English sides to the player - with Newcastle and Southampton both said to be interested in mounting a bid.
Liaoning official Zhang Shuguang has told the Chinese press that the club are unlikely to drop the 25-year-old's price-tag.
"Li Tie is not only the best player in the country, but his AFC Player of the Year nomination just goes to show what kind of a talent he is," said Zhang.
"The potential to be crowned the best player in China is fine testament to what he can achieve.
"He has shown his ability over the last European season and has done his talking on the pitch. He is totally comfortable playing in one of the top leagues in Europe and his price should not be below 20 million yuan (about £1.5 million).
"Even if other clubs in China want him, his price will not go any lower than that as well.
"The club is fully supportive of what the player wants and his opinions.
"We are fully behind his wishes to continue his career in Europe but the club also needs to be fair, both on ourselves as well as the player, to get a just price that everyone should deserve."
