Leicester City target M'Baye Niang says he rejected a move to the Premier League champions - because he didn't want to play second fiddle to Jamie Vardy.
The "?Daily Mirror published quotes attributed to the AC Milan striker, who was linked with a move to the Foxes recently.
Niang, however, said that he snubbed Claudio Ranieri's side after a phone-call from the Italian, who revealed what role the 21-year-old would have at the King Power Stadium.
Niang said: "When Claudio Ranieri called me I listened to his offer, then I spoke with my club and we decided not to do anything.
"I would have only played if Jamie Vardy was injured."?
Vardy, 29, was Leicester's top goalscorer during the 2015/16 campaign as he helped the East Midlands side win an unprecedented first ever Premier League title.
The England international plundered 24 goals for Ranieri's men - form which led to his inclusion in England's Euro 2016 squad during the summer.
Niang, meanwhile, is rumoured to harbour ambitions of playing in the Premier League. The forward was linked with potential moves to Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur back in May, and was tentatively linked with Everton back in the 2012 close season.
However, the then 17-year-old opted to leave former club SM Caen in favour of AC Milan.
Since switching Ligue 1 for Serie A, though, Niang has featured just 59 times for I Rossoneri, finding the back of the net on nine occasions.
The France Under-21 international spent six month loan spells at Montpellier and Genoa in 2013/14 and 2014/15 respectively as he built up his first-team experience.
He enjoyed his best season as a Milan player last term, with eight goals scored in 21 matches before an ankle injury, as well as being involved in a traffic accident, ended his season prematurely.
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