Mancini denies interest in Suarez

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has rubbished reports linking him with a move for Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

Rumours this week had suggested that the reigning Premier League champions were preparing a 50-million-pound move for the 25-year-old in the January window.

While the Italian already has four strikers at his disposal at the Etihad, both Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko have been linked with transfers away after becoming second choice to Argentina duo Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez.

However, Mancini has followed Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers in quickly playing down the reports, insisting he is happy with his current squad and becoming seemingly frustrated with ongoing speculation, adding that a move would not be possible anyway.

“It is not true, I don’t know,” he told reporters of the Suarez links.

“For two weeks we talk about Monaco, after (Pep) Guardiola, after another manager, now Suarez, now Mario (Balotelli).

“We have a good team and we don’t need to buy another player in January.

“We can’t buy Suarez or another player because we have four strikers and Suarez plays for Liverpool.”

City, who sit two points behind Manchester United at the top of the league table, will aim to keep the pressure on their rivals when they face Aston Villa on Saturday.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men play Norwich later in the day.