Sampdoria insist star pair Angelo Palombo and Giampaolo Pazzini will stay.

The duo have been linked with Juventus since the departure of coach Gigi del Neri.

Sampdoria's new director general Sergio Gasparin said: "I have read certain figures in newspapers and listened to them on various radio stations.

"For our part, there is the desire to keep them. The President has defined them as cornerstones and pillars."

When asked if Sampdoria had received any offers, Gasparin replied: "As of today, I repeat, we have only read about them in the newspapers and seen them on TV."