Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has ruled out a move for Galatasaray midfielder Wesley Sneijder as the club cannot afford his wages.
The Daily Mail and Daily Mirror had both credited Saints with an interest in the Netherlands international, 30, as Koeman seeks to try to lift the club after a run of five straight defeats.
However, although Koeman shares an agent with his fellow Dutchman, he said Southampton do not have the financial power to sign Sneijder, who has also been linked with Manchester United.
"I'm interested, but we can't pay him," Koeman said. "I know that because his agent is my agent. There is nothing in that story, no."
Meanwhile, Koeman has urged his players to bounce back from their latest loss, which saw the club exit the Capital One Cup with a 1-0 defeat to League One opponents Sheffield United.
"I explained to the players that I was very disappointed, but this is all in the past now," he said ahead of Saturday's game against Everton. "Always the next game can change a lot of things and, looking back to Sheffield United, we have to change our teamwork, our belief and our spirit. That is the key for the game on Saturday.
"We have to look at what is ahead now and if somebody said to me in the preseason that by the middle of December, you are the fifth in the list [league table], I say give me the paper and I sign for that now.
"I understand the defeats are disappointing. I know my players now and I know what they can do and how they can play football, but it is all about freshness. The answer they can give to people is on the pitch on Saturday.
"There is always a way you can lose a game, but not the way we lost to Sheffield United last Tuesday. It was not good enough for us, but we have another chance against Everton on Saturday."