Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has emphatically stated that Manchester United have not tabled any bid for his forward Sadio Mane, while adding that the transfer window should not still be open now that the season is underway.
Reports emerged on Wednesday suggesting United had an offer for Mane rejected last week, but Southampton officials quickly dismissed those suggestions and insisted the player is not for sale.
Now Koeman has backed up those comments, as he spoke after his side's 1-1 Europa League play-off draw with Danish side Midtjylland, expressing frustration over the speculation on Mane's future and that of his midfielder Victor Wanyama, who is being linked with a move to Tottenham.
"There's no bid for any player. Not for Wanyama, not for Sadio," Koeman said. "We have to deal with the rumours of the press and maybe somebody is talking from Manchester [United]. I don't know, because there is no contact, no bid for anybody.
"I don't like it because maybe players think they are not then focused on what they have to do. There is no bid for any player, no bid by the club."
Koeman went on to close the door on any more departures from his squad, as he confirmed the exits of Morgan Schneiderlin and Nathaniel Clyne will be the last big name exits from Southampton this summer and called for the closing date of the transfer window to be moved back a few weeks.
"There will be no more players sold," Koeman said. "Write what you want to about the rumours, nobody is going to leave Southampton.
"This is the worst situation for the smaller clubs. Nobody talks about the best players of Manchester City, Manchester United or of Chelsea, but teams like Southampton have to deal with this and it is not easy.
"It makes rumours, everyone is talking about that and we have to play games. If they don't change the window from Sept. 1, always we will have these kind of rumours."
Fresh reports in the UK newspapers suggest Manchester United are preparing a firm offer to sign Mane, despite Koeman's denial that a bid has already been rejected from the Old Trafford club.