Ivorian star Arouna Kone claims he turned down the chance to move to England last month. The Sevilla striker was made available for loan and agreed to join German side Hannover.

But he has revealed that he also had interest from the Premier League, believed to be Wigan, as well as Gordon Strachan's Middlesbrough.

"I am very happy to be here, I am looking for first-team football," he told skysports.com.

"Hannover has given me the opportunity to do that.

"I could have gone to England, teams like Middlesbrough and a Premier League team were interested in me, but I chose Hannover because I will be ready here to force my way back in the Ivorian national team for the World Cup 2010."