Reuters is reporting that an anonymous source has squelched the rumor that Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. is holding takeover discussions with LinkedIn.

The rumor first surfaced two weeks ago when TechCrunch reported that Murdoch had taken a fancy to LinkedIn. It was fueled last week when VentureBeat weighed in, reporting that its “well-placed source” has confirmed that News Corp. is in “serious” talks to buy the social network geared to professionals.

Analysts say the deal would make a lot of sense, giving News Corp. the technology and service underpinnings to connect the business world readers of its Dow Jones publications. And Murdoch has been known to exploit fast-moving opportunities before they peak, such as his purchase of MySpace.

Check out the full article at iMedia Connection.