Ajax have told Tottenham target Davinson Sanchez that they do not want to sell him this summer.
On Friday, sources told ESPN FC that Tottenham were confident of making Sanchez, 21, their first signing of the summer, but reports from the Netherlands over the weekend claimed Ajax have rejected their £35 million bid.
The same reports added that the Colombia international, who was Ajax's Player of the Year last season, wants to move to North London after a conversation with Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino and that the transfer will inevitably happen.
But in a statement to Sky Sports, an Ajax spokesman said: "Last year Sanchez signed a five-year contract and we don't want to let him go.
"That's what [sporting director] Marc Overmars has told the player and his agents. He is a great player who is very important for us. Next to that, we never comment on rumours regarding transfers."
Pochettino remains relaxed about Tottenham's lack of transfer activity, saying the club would continue to promote young players after 20-year-old Kyle Walker-Peters impressed on his debut in Sunday's 2-0 win against Newcastle.
"For me it's something positive," Pochettino told TyC Sports. "We have maintained a structure and we take youth [players] from our reserves. We are working on improving the team and signing players. This club is completely different to those that are desperate to urgently win a title.
"Our philosophy is different. We have a mission to win but doing so by taking another path to reach success. Our idea is for our players to feel comfortable and for us to create a family. We must seek for football to be a passion and not a job."
On Tottenham's plans, he added: "It's an exciting project which we still have to let the world know through our results and finishing our new stadium. Our training centre is one of the best in Europe."