Leeds United chairman, Peter Ridsdale, this morning reiterated Leeds' determination to keep Rio Ferdinand - and insisted the club would reject any transfer demand from the player.
Ferdinand is considering his future after Manchester United expressed an interest in taking him to Old Trafford in a deal thought to be worth more than £30 million sterling.
Ferdinand says he will make a decision soon - but Ridsdale insists the club have no intention of letting him go.
He told the Yorkshire Post: "As far as I am concerned Rio Ferdinand is going nowhere and I find all this talk about him leaving quite amusing considering that we haven't had a bid for him.
"I have no reason to doubt that Rio wants to stay at Leeds United.
"He has not indicated that he wants to leave and, while it is purely hypothetical, if he were to hand in a transfer request it would be firmly rejected by the board."
Ferdinand, 23, still has four years left on the contract he signed when Leeds made him the world's most expensive defender by splashing out £18 million in November 2000.
PA