RB Salzburg CEO Stephan Reiter has denied Chelsea are close to hiring Christoph Freund as sporting director.
The transfer guru, 45, was reported to have held talks with the Blues as Todd Boehly looks to hire a sporting director.
Freund is responsible for discovering the likes of Erling Haaland and Sadio Mane and Boehly is believed to want to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
But despite talk of a verbal contract being agreed, Reiter says the Austrian is going nowhere.
The RB Salzburg chief told Sky Sports of the proposed move: "I can definitely rule that out.
"Neither Chelsea nor Christoph Freund spoke to me or the club management about something like that.
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"Christoph recently signed a contract with us until 2026, which applies to him as well as to players, managers or coaches."
Freund also hinted at a stay despite praising Chelsea, revealing he is happy at the Austrian club.
He said: "Chelsea is a huge club in transition.
“I can’t say exactly what will happen in the next few weeks and months. You should never rule anything out in football and Chelsea are such a huge club.
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“But I’m sports director in Salzburg and I really enjoy it.”
It is a big blow for Chelsea and owner Boehly who wants to have a sporting director in place before the January transfer window.
The American had to conduct the Blues' summer business by himself but wants an expert to work alongside new manager Graham Potter.
PSG chief Luis Campos is on his shortlist with the club reportedly prepared to offer him a staggering £135,000 a week.
Former Liverpool transfer chief Michael Edwards was also on the Blues' radar in the summer but it appears Boehly is starting to look elsewhere.
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