Steve Bruce suggested that he hopes to build his Newcastle United team around Sean Longstaff, and dismissed suggestions that the midfielder is on his way to Manchester United.
The 21-year-old has been linked with a move to Old Trafford as a potential replacement for Ander Herrera, who joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer this summer.
But Red Devils chief executive Ed Woodwood was left shocked when the Magpies demanded £50million for the midfielder, who has only played 13 senior games for the club.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his transfer team are said to value Longstaff at closer to £20million, and it remains to be seen whether a compromise deal can be struck in the coming weeks as United look to make him their third summer signing, following the arrivals of Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
But Bruce - who joined his boyhood club Newcastle this week having resigned as Sheffield Wednesday boss - sent a strong message over Longstaff's future.
"He’s the type of player you want to build your team around, I’ve only seen him for a day, but he has had an unbelievable rise," said Bruce in Shanghai, where Newcastle are taking on West Ham in the third-place playoff at the Premier League Asia Trophy.
"Very much reminds me of a Michael Carrick. I’m not aware that he’s going to United, I’m not aware of that at all."