Partizan Belgrade have played down reports that they have agreed a deal with Chelsea for starlet Lazar Markovic.
Belgrade giants insist that no deal has been struck with Markovic
Partizan Belgrade have played down reports that they have agreed a deal with Chelsea for starlet Lazar Markovic.
The 18-year-old forward is rated as one of the best young players in Europe and is already a full Serbia international.
Reports in Serbia and England claimed that a deal to bring Markovic to Stamford Bridge had been concluded.
However, Partizan have insisted that they have not agreed a deal and they want him to remain in Belgrade for another 12 months at least.
"We would like to announce that all information saying Lazar Markovic has been sold is untrue," Partizan spokesman Nenad Danilovic told Serbian news agency
Tanjug.
"During the winter, Partizan rejected all offers that came for Markovic and he will stay with us at least for one year more."
A Partizan source also told respected Serbian website
B-92 that they had rejected big-money offers.
"The mutual wish of the player and the club is for him to stay the whole of next season with us and, if it is possible, another year after that. It is true that we have a multi-million offer on the table, but Partizan will not rush with it, as at the moment we have absolutely no replacement for him."
