Newcastle United will be looking for answers from Lyon in their pursuit for Bruno Guimarães.
The Ligue 1 club have released an angry statement suggesting that they have not accepted a £33.5million bid for the Brazil international at this stage.
The ongoing situation, with the midfielder scheduled for a medical in South America, may yet be concluded with five days of the window to go.
But despite Newcastle sources suggesting that the deal was "positively" moving forward, Lyon have snapped back and said in an official statement: "Olympique Lyonnais categorically denies the false information disseminated by many media reporting an agreement between Newcastle and OL for the transfer of Brazilian international midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
"In this transfer window period where the slightest rumour is often presented as reality, Olympique Lyonnais reminds that only information officially released by the club is to be taken into consideration."
It remains to be seen whether the hesitation is part of a ploy from Lyon but the player is keen on a move to the Premier League.
Lyon supremo Jean-Michel Aulas is renowned for driving a hard bargain as Newcastle found out in 2013 when they tried to sign Clement Grenier from the French side.
Lyon also have history of releasing statements denying sales as they did with Ferland Mendy before his move to Real Madrid in 2019.
Back then they said: "Olympique Lyonnais denies an agreement with Real Madrid for a possible transfer of its international defender Ferland Mendy, contrary to what can be relayed by some media."
That statement was released on June 4, he later signed for Real Madrid on June 12.
