The X Factor hopeful Katie Waissel has allegedly confessed her love to fellow contestant Matt Cardle… only to be rejected.

According to New! magazine, the 24-year old tearfully told Cardle: “I can’t be just friends. I have strong feelings for you" to which Matt apparently replied that he wasn't interested.

[uuid=bc193d36-0435-449f-8def-dd41243968ab] SEE PICS OF KATIE & MATT FROM THE X FACTOR 2010 IN MTV'S GALLERY HERE![/uuid]

A source told the celeb mag: "She’s in pieces and finding all the stress hard to deal with.”

Waissel and Matt have had a fiery relationship after he accused Katie of leaking a story to be press about them being in bed together, to which the 27-year old Essex boy branded her a 'fame-hungry t**t."

After XF producers made the pair kiss and make-up, the insider claimed that Katie's feelings for Matt have only got stronger.

[uuid=0a09f1a6-ef27-48f7-bfe9-ea610f044459] SEE XF JUDGE SIMON COWELL'S OFFICIAL TOP 50 HERE![/uuid]

They continued: "Katie said she was sorry for offending him and declared her love for him. Matt was taken aback, especially because they’ve hardly spoken since falling out.

“He told her she’s just being emotional and she started crying and begging him to give her a chance.
"In the end, Matt gave her a cuddle and promised to start being nice to her but, the truth is, he thinks that a relationship could be disastrous because she’s so vulnerable.”
A friend also added to the publication: "She may be emotional but she’s used to getting what she wants, She has set her sights on Matt and won’t give up without a fight.”

[uuid=bc193d36-0435-449f-8def-dd41243968ab] CHECK OUT MORE FROM THE X FACTOR 2010 IN MTV'S GALLERY HERE![/uuid]

However, reports have suggested that Cardle has a crush on another XF contestant, Katie's fellow girl, Rebecca Ferguson.

Closer magazine has claimed that romance is blossoming between Cardle and Rebecca, with an XF source telling the mag: "Behind the scenes everyone has spotted that Matt has a crush on Rebecca."

They added: "He loves her genuinely sweet nature and has been supporting her through the live shows."

While things may be hotting between Matt and Rebecca, One Direction star Zayn Malik has quashed reports that he is dating Cher Lloyd, stating they are just pals.

Speaking to The Sun, Zayn said: "She is our friend because she is the same age as us, but I don't fancy her."

Malik has since been linked to Geneva Lane of axed girlband, Belle Amie.