Newcastle United still hope to push through their purchase of Bruno Guimarães - despite Lyon's decision to release a statement after news broke of the Magpies' £33.5million bid.
The midfielder is scheduled to have a medical on Friday in South America after Brazil's clash with Ecuador.
And after conflicting details of the 24-year-old's price tag emerged on Wednesday, French football experts have pointed to Lyon's usual policy in situations like this.
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Lyon had said today: "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."
But with Lyon classed as a public listed company they are obliged to release such statements to ensure no false information is disseminated until the deal is done.
This is especially when relating to potential deals.
A denial of "false information" relates to mixed reports of his price in French media.
The rules also state that Lyon must make any big announcements of significant business to the stock exchange first.
Lyon also has a history of releasing statements denying sales just 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.
Eddie Howe said today: "There's a lot of hard work going on back in England.
"There's no news to tell anybody at the moment."
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