Confusion today surrounded the future of Leeds midfielder Olivier Dacourt after Lazio owner Massimo Cragnotti declared he had reached a verbal agreement to sign the Frenchman, only for United to deny all talk of a deal.
The Rome club claimed this morning that they had "reached an agreement" with Leeds regarding the 27-year-old and that a reported €25million (Stg£15.5million) transfer was pending.
And Cragnotti, amid suggestions he had met with Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale in Rome last night, added substance to the claims when he said: "There is a verbal agreement, but there is nothing written down. But I believe that both clubs will reach an agreement."
However, Leeds were keen to play down the reports, stating on their official website that nothing had been agreed and adding that the club were "reluctant to decide their close season restructure" until the end of the season.
That restructuring - Leeds have recently admitted they will have to sell players in the summer if they do not qualify for European competition next season - has thrown Dacourt's future into doubt in recent weeks.
Although chairman Peter Ridsdale has maintained that the club will not be selling "the crown jewels" -Dacourt, skipper Rio Ferdinand, Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell - the club know they have to cut costs and such a big fee for the France international midfielder would be tempting.
Lazio are reportedly in financial difficulty, but Cragnotti denied they would be forced to sell players in order to finance a bid for Dacourt.
PA