That there is no evidence stated in the article. Doesn't mean there is no evidence whatsoever.
Journos tend to protect their sources carefully.
When an entity volunteers no meaningful information, save to announce extended contracts for a manager and a player, the resulting vacuum is an open invitation to speculate. This is the busiest Dockerland Wednesday ever, i reckon.
That article might be idle journalism but what is the 3rd estate to do when the club offers only spin?
Run the hearsay up the flagpole to get a reaction, is what.
Why wouldn't you? I think the saying is: where there's smoke there's fire.