Report: Wenger rejected Fulham before club hired Ranieri

It appears Claudio Ranieri wasn't Fulham's first choice to replace Slavisa Jokanovic.

Before appointing the Italian as the club's new manager, the bottom-of-the-table Cottagers were eager to discuss the opening with Arsene Wenger, according to Matt Law of The Telegraph.

Law reports the former Arsenal boss "politely declined" to speak with Fulham in a gesture believed to be motivated by his pledge not to manage any English club besides Arsenal, which the BBC reported in October.

Wenger spent 22 years in north London before leaving the Gunners last season. He has since insisted he'll enjoy his time off before returning to the touchline, saying last month he's targeting a return in 2019.

Law added Bayern Munich could be a potential target for Wenger, considering the club has struggled this season under new manager Niko Kovac; the Bavarians sit seven points off the top spot, collecting just 20 points in their first 11 matches.

Fulham named Ranieri manager Wednesday in a bid to help the west London club avoid relegation in its first season back in the Premier League. He previously managed Chelsea and Leicester City, who he guided to a sensational Premier League triumph in 2016.