It’s been a few weeks since Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) execs met with representatives from various ad agencies to feel out interest in who would want to buy its interactive agency, Razorfish and still no obvious deal, just lots of talk with early September as a target. Take the conflicting reports this past week—Business Insider cited a Credit Suisse analyst who said Publicis’ interest had waned, while the WSJ and Reuters said it was just the opposite.

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As we, and others, have reported, Publicis has been the lead contender all along and a variety of agency sources say that the ad firm is intent on making a deal with Microsoft. Although three sources told paidContent that WPP had a cordial meeting with Microsoft execs about what it would it take to move Razorfish out of the Redmond software company’s orbit, a deal appears to be in doubt. Sources were not clear as to why WPP was not able to capture the lead contender spot. Several executives speculated it was a matter of demonstrating who wants Razorfish more, and so far, Publicis has gone to greater lengths to show its desire. For one thing, Publicis executives have indicated that they would be willing to pay upwards of $700 million to acquire Razorfish, while WPP has balked at paying more than $600 million.