FC Koln chief Jörg Schmadtke says they've held talks with Tottenham for Kevin Wimmer.
But the prospect of a January deal is unlikely.
"Kevin was there, the situation at Spurs is not so great for him. But it is not true that Tottenham have rejected an offer," said Schmadtke.
"We have made no official request to Tottenham to say we wanted the player. The story, as I have read it, is not correct in its entirety.
"If he had wanted to change, we would certainly have talked about it."