Everton boss Roberto Martinez says Manchester City have never made an approach for Ross Barkley.
Barkley, who turned 21 on Friday, is rated as one of the brightest young prospects in the Premier League, and Martinez said last month: "There is no doubt in my mind that he will be the best player England has ever had."
Such potential has led to suggestions of interest from the Premier League champions in several newspapers, with the Manchester Evening News reporting last month that the England international was "the player City covet more than any other" but that they had refused to meet an asking price of 60 million pounds in the summer.
However, asked whether City had expressed an interest ahead his side's trip to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, Martinez was quoted as telling several national newspapers: "No, no, no.
"We have a great relationship with City. We signed Gareth Barry on loan from them and the relationship has always been good but there has never been an approach about Ross. Never. Honestly, City are not trying to do that. Maybe if you are a selling club they could try that, but we are not a selling club.
"I think every game we play there is a link with one of our players. When we went to Wolfsburg it was Romelu Lukaku and when you go to another ground it is Kevin Mirallas.
"Ross doesn't care. He could play in the most intense game of football with the most intense atmosphere and the biggest meaning and all he sees is an enjoyment. That is the big attribute he has."
Barkley, who featured for England at the World Cup, has had an injury-hit campaign after returning to club duty with Everton and has yet to show his best form, but Martinez has no doubt he remains on the right track.
"I think he has improved massively. It is unfair to look at Ross's performances and blame our results on that," he said, after seeing his side beaten 2-1 by Tottenham and then held to a 1-1 draw by Hull in the last week. "Ross is developing all the time. His pass to Seamus Coleman against Spurs shows the ability he is bringing into his game and he showed incredible power the other night against Hull. I am very pleased with his performances. I don't think he is performing badly at all.
"Can he improve? Of course he can because he is a young man who has all the potential in the world. I see massive improvement in certain areas from where he was last season and I think we are going to see the best Ross Barkley in the second half of the season.
"Preseason, before the injury, Ross was at his very best. Injury set him back and it stops you from getting the rhythm but after Christmas we are clearly going to see the best of Ross."