Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes has insisted that the German club will not meet the release clause for Athletic Bilbao Javi Martinez's contract.
The 23-year-old has been linked with the Champions League finalists in recent weeks, but it is understood that Bilbao will not entertain bids of less than £32m.
"It is not a secret that we have spoken with Javi Martinez's agents. I have also spoken with Josu Urrutia, who played for me in my first stint at Athletic," he told TZ.
"I know how the Basques think. The fact that they insist on asking for the figure in his buy-out clause is also a political decision. Bayern will never pay that figure, that is for sure. There is always hope, but I am not sure that it will be easy to sign him."
Martinez's contract with Bilbao runs until 2016.