Sporting CP presidential candidate Jose Maria Ricciardi is adamant Leicester City midfielder Adrien Silva agreed to join them in January should he win the club's election.

Silva has denied the claims on social media.

But Ricciardi's office released a statement, insisting: "On Monday, September 3, around 11.30 am, there was a meeting between Jose Maria Ricciardi, Jose Eduardo, Marco Caneira and Adrien, at the List B Campaign headquarters, at Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon.

“In this meeting, [it] was expressed by all those present, the desire to find a solution so that Adrien could return to Sporting.

“There was a tacit agreement in which it was made clear to all present, the full willingness expressed by Adrien to come to Alvalade, should our candidacy win, and as soon as Leicester releases him.

“This tacit agreement presupposes, in the case of the victory of José Maria Ricciardi, the need to establish contacts with Leicester, a club we respect very much, and to which Adrien is bound. We reject strictly all the insinuations and falsehoods that have been made public for the reasons that members of Sporting easily identify.

“For our part, we reiterate here to the sportinguists the firm commitment that we will do everything to bring to Sporting all the values that can contribute to its aggrandisement, including Adrien."