Mancini tips Rooney to stay with United

Asked if there had been contact between City and the player, Mancini said: "No. Never.

"Rooney is a great player but I think he'll stay at United," said Mancini.

"He's a good player, he's an important player for United."

However the Italian coach, whose team face Lech Poznan in the Europa League tonight, has indicated that he could make changes in the summer.

The City boss added: "There are a lot of players in the world, and what is important for us is to think of our players and our season.

"In the summer if there is a player who could change something for us, we could talk about this. Not January, I don't think.

"Manchester City are developing every month, every year. But every day we hear we are buying a new player and that is not good.

"It is correct that the owners have big ambitions, but everyone who works here has big ambitions for the future.

"At this moment we must think about Poznan and the next league game against Arsenal," he said.

After being linked with a move for the unsettled Rooney, Mancini could find himself short of strikers against the Polish side.

Mario Balotelli remains sidelined with a knee injury, Jo has an ankle problem and Roque Santa Cruz is not on the club's Europa League list of players.

Mancini was contemplating giving Carlos Tevez a rest but will now wait until today before making a decision.

It could mean Emmanuel Adebayor being the main striker even though he looked out of sorts in the 3-2 victory against Blackpool.

He said: "We must improve and recover all of our players. The season is long but it is important to be near Chelsea and the other teams."