Leicester Tigers are close to signing Newcastle Falcons tight-head prop Kieran Brookes for next season, BBC Radio Leicester understands.
Brookes, 20, signed a one-year deal at Newcastle in May and is also attracting interest from Munster and Leinster.
But Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said the link to Brookes was just "speculation".
"We are in process of doing all our signings. When we have signed them we will let you know," he said.
The former Kirkham Grammar School pupil has both England and Ireland Under-20 international honours, and has made 10 starts in 26 appearances for the Falcons following his Premiership debut against Saracens in November 2009.
