Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini wants Carlos Tevez sold - rather than sacked - when the market reopens in January.

The Daily Mail says Mancini is aware he must avoid a split in his dressing room 24 hours before City play Blackburn Rovers in the Barclays Premier League.

He feels City's attempts to sack Tevez could get messy and distract his squad because Tevez has several friends in the City dressing room.

The Italian believes Tevez has no future at the club, but wants City to sell his former captain in the transfer window, rather than sacking him if the allegations against him are substantiated.

Mancini fears the dispute has already wiped £30million off the player's transfer value to somewhere near the £20m mark.