Media tycoon John de Mol has denied making an offer for the Netherlands’ biggest online news site Nu.nl.

The Financieele Dagblad said earlier on Thursday that sources had told it Talpa is serious about the acquisition because De Mol has long harboured plans for a Dutch multi-media publishing group. Nu.nl is owned by Finnish media group Sanoma.

‘There is no question of an offer, not at the moment, not yesterday and not next week,’ a spokesman for De Mol’s investment vehicle Talpa said. News agency ANP quoted Talpa as saying the FD’s report is ‘rumours and speculation without foundation’.

The FD also pointed out that earlier this week, Peter de Mönnink, who headed Sanoma’s Dutch and Begian activities, moved over to Talpa as chief commercial officer.