Sampdoria are bracing themselves for an offer from Manchester City for Antonio Cassano. New City boss Roberto Mancini is a big fan of Cassano and could replace Craig Bellamy with the Italian in January.

"I read what they wrote in the English newspapers," Samp chief Bepp Marotta told calciomercato.com. "But I can assure you that we have not been contacted nor have we heard about it.

"But we know that Mancini dotes on Cassano, but otherwise there are no formal offers of any kind."

Samp teammate Giampaolo Pazzini has also been linked with City and Chelsea.

Marotta added: "The truth is that they are two quality players and it is normal that many teams may be interested."