Everton have denied claims that Gerard Deulofeu has joined AC Milan.
An announcement from the Serie A giants’ official Twitter account claimed that the winger had been secured on a loan deal until the end of the season.
Negotiations between the two parties had been ongoing despite the Blues rejecting a proposed no-obligation loan offer from Milan for Deulofeu.
Both Ajax and Middlesbrough are also in the hunt for the Spain international but Goodison Park officials dispute the Rossoneri’s claims of a done deal.
Milan later deleted the tweet, which had been shared over 2,000 times.
Earlier this week Ronald Koeman revealed that he was willing to allow Deulofeu to leave Goodison Park in order to pursue first-team football elsewhere.
He said: “I spoke to Geri and it’s a difficult situation for the player.
“If he finds a solution to go and to play and to get game time then it’s no problem.
“But the final decision is by the board of the club to accept yes or no [on an] agreement.
“I did not have any call from the chairman [saying] that they agreed something for Deulofeu.”