The owner of Ligue 1 club Marseille has rejected a report claiming the club has been sold and Marcelo Bielsa is on the verge of returning as manager.
In April, Margarita Louis-Dreyfus said she was selling up and earlier this month sought to reassure fans she would only cede power to someone with a "solid long-term project."
France Football reported on Monday that a deal had been agreed with businessman Gerard Lopez and said an official announcement would be made next week.
However, a statement published on Marseille's official website on Monday said: "Margarita Louis-Dreyfus formally denies the information published by France Football indicating that the club was sold.
"She questions the interest that a serious media organisation could have had in disseminating false and unverified information.
"The day the sale of OM is finalised, employees and the City of Marseille will be the first to know and a statement will be released, as it ought to be. Speculation is therefore fanciful."
Lopez, born in Luxembourg, is a former owner of the Lotus Formula One team.
France Football also claimed Argentine coach Bielsa, who oversaw a thrilling season two years ago, would be coming back.
Bielsa resigned after defeat to Caen on the opening day of last season and last month quit Lazio just days after agreeing to become manager.