However, Bates insists Delph is perfectly happy at Elland Road and feels his long-term future has always been with the club.
"I don't know what the Mirror will write about now seeing as they've been at it all month," he told Yorkshire Radio.
"Sky were banging on about Leeds fans expecting a tremendous price as well. Nothing happened, so now it's suggested 'at least until the summer'.
"The last time I looked at his contract, he is with us until 2012. Why should he go anywhere this summer? Or the summers after that?
"I had a chat with him after Peterborough game. He's at home at Leeds, we want to look after him and we will look after him and support him.
"He's happy at Leeds and has an agent who is more interested in looking after him than he is making a fast buck."