Bayer Leverkusen have been forced to release an official statement denying reports of an agreed contract extension for their sought-after midfielder Florian Wirtz.
The in-demand Germany international has attracted interest from across the continent after starring in Leverkusen's double-winning campaign last season. Wirtz was crowned Bundesliga Player of the Year after hitting double digits for goals and assists while Xabi Alonso's side avoided defeat in every domestic match.
Leverkusen hung on to their talented 21-year-old over the summer, but the transfer speculation has not slowed down.
Real Madrid have been a long-term admirer, while Manchester City also joined the race in recent weeks. Wirtz was one of five midfield targets named as Pep Guardiola's out-of-form outfit attempt to break the cycle of poor results with a big-money signing this winter.
German publication Kicker put a dent in any pursuit of Wirtz when they produced an exclusive claiming that the playmaker had agreed to a new contract extension. The confident phrase "deal done" was repeated several times in the report.
Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz and Bayer Leverkusen haven't quite hit the heights of last season / Sebastian Widmann/GettyImages
Without revealing an exact length, Kicker claimed that Wirtz had extended his deal - which is due to expire in 2027 - by "at least one year". The prodigious midfielder had also apparently agreed to a new annual salary which would make him the best-paid player at the club.
Shortly after that report was released, Leverkusen felt compelled to quash the rumours with an official statement. "Bayer 04 has had a very trusting and close relationship with Florian Wirtz and his family for years," the club wrote. "Contract matters are still discussed exclusively between Bayer 04 management and the Wirtz family."
The reigning Bundesliga champions have always struck a confident public tone regarding the future of Wirtz and his manager Xabi Alonso - who has also attracted admiring glances from Real Madrid. Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro defiantly declared that the chances of Wirtz staying at the club beyond next summer were "very high".
"And why shouldn't they be high?" he asked.
They would be a lot higher if Wirtz had actually put pen to paper on a new deal.
READ THE LATEST TRANSFER NEWS & GOSSIP FROM AROUND THE WORLD