Liverpool believe they are being linked with Nicolas Pepe to drive the player's price up ahead of one of the biggest moves of the summer.
The Lille frontman is set to be on the move this summer after his 22 goals helped fire Lille to second place in France's Ligue 1.
But it doesn't look as though he is heading to Anfield, as Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is only looking to make tweaks to his Champions League-winning squad.
Liverpool are to offer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain a 12-month extension to his current deal , and so are not likely to splash out big transfer fees on attacking reinforcements.
The Reds have been linked with Ivory Coast international Pepe, with L'Equipe recently reporting Liverpool had already tabled a £70m bid.
But the Liverpool Echo claimed those reports were incorrect and no talks have been held with either Lille or Pepe's representatives .
And Liverpool believe reports linking the player to them are merely attempts to drum up interest ahead of a big-money move, according to the Evening Standard .
Pepe has been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United, although the Gunners are likely to be priced out of a move after missing out on Champions League football whilst the Red Devils could be out of the running after landing Swansea winger Daniel James.
Chelsea are facing up to a transfer ban, and Bayern Munich are now the favourites to land the Ivory Coast international, with reports he is ready to jump at the chance to head to the Bundesliga giants.
Pepe is set for a huge summer as he is expected to play a key role for his country at the upcoming African Cup of Nations.
Oxlade-Chamberlain , meanwhile, is set to extend his £120,000-a-week stay with Liverpool to 2023.
He had a year out with a serious knee injury, which he picked up in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Roma back in April 2018.
But the former Arsenal midfielder is targeting a return to full fitness ahead of the 2019/20 season.
The fixtures for the new Premier League season are announced this Thursday.
