Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri says the Premier League's superpowers have only themselves to blame if they fail to qualify for the Champions League amid rumours of a breakaway European Super League.

It was reported this week that a potential shake-up in the European football hierarchy could be in the works which would see the biggest and richest clubs guaranteed a place in a new version of the Champions League regardless of their position in their domestic league.

The intrigue started when representatives from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United met with Charlie Stillitano, the chairman of American company Relevent Sports, in London on Tuesday.

The talks were mainly about the pre-season International Champions Cup competition which is staged in the United States and Asia and organised by Relevent Sports, and the clubs have denied that any discussions took place regarding a European Super League.

However, when asked if a Super League was still on the agenda, Stillitano told radio station Sirius XM on Thursday: "I think it is. They're talking about it all over Europe. At least a change in format.

"When they came up with the Champions League, the idea wasn't to have PSV and Genk playing in the knock-out stage.

"What would Manchester United argue: did we create soccer or did Leicester create (it)?

"Let's call it the money pot created by soccer and the fandom around the world. Who has had more of an integral role, Manchester United or Leicester?

"It's a wonderful, wonderful story -- but you could see it from Manchester United's point of view, too."

Leicester and Tottenham currently occupy the first two of the four Champions League places available for next season, while Chelsea, United and Liverpool are outside the Premier League's top four.

Asked on Friday about this week's reports, Ranieri made it clear it should be current success on the pitch that leads to European places rather than past glories.

"This is sport, no? I understand they want to do something, but if something strange happens, they shouldn't blame the little teams, they should blame themselves," he said.

"Talk surrounding a Super League is speculation. They are trying to do something, but I think people must think about what fans want, not only about money, because the culture and the fans are more important than other things."

Chelsea interim boss Guus Hiddink supported Ranieri's views and said a club's bank balance and their perceived popularity were irrelevant when it came to deciding Champions League berths.

"I think we must all be careful to go into exclusivity when teams like this year surprisingly Leicester is mixing in," he said.

"They have the full right to be where they are now and are a good contender for the next Champions League this year."

Asked if the top clubs were spooked by the success of Leicester, Hiddink added: "I hope so. Why not? That's real sport. We must not forget what it's all about in sport."