Deutsche Bank yesterday denied a newspaper report that it planned to buy or merge with Italy's Unicredito, but speculation about the German bank's plans in Italy is likely to remain on the boil. "We want to give a clear denial," a spokesman for Germany's largest bank said. "The rumours are completely unfounded." German daily Handelsblatt, in a report due today, said there were growing indications in Frankfurt financial circles that Deutsche would submit a bid or share swap offer for Unicredito today similar to the DaimlerChrysler tie-up last year.