Inter coach Roberto Mancini has played down reports he is trying to recruit Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon as the Serie A side prepare to bolster their squad for a Champions League push in the second half of the season.

Reports in England claimed Lennon, who has fallen out of favour at White Hart Lane, would be one of Mancini's winter transfer targets as he looks to get the Nerazzurri back among the elite of European football after a two-year absence.

But after Inter's 2-2 draw at home with Lazio on Sunday, Mancini told Sky Sport: "He has never been one of our targets."

The former Manchester City manager said the club could make a move for Alessio Cerci, who has been used sparingly at Atletico Madrid.

"He could become one of our principal objectives," Mancini told Mediaset.

"But at the moment he's an Atletico Madrid player and so we have to wait a little.

"The only certainty is that we need reinforcements in this particular position."

Inter sit 11th in Serie A, 18 points adrift of leaders and champions Juventus, four behind city rivals Milan and six behind Lazio in the third and final Champions League qualifying spot.