Massimo Moratti, the Inter Milan owner, has denied that Jose Mourinho is due to take over as club's coach for the start of next season.

Speculation linking the former Chelsea manager to the Serie A leaders has gathered pace since Roberto Mancini announced last month that he would step down as coach at the end of the season, only to change his mind a day later. Recently a Mourinho representative claimed he had been in Italy to meet with Moratti but Mourinho himself denied that meeting ever took place.

"For me the situation will not change because we want to go forward without making any great waves that you never know whether or not will be positive," Moratti said. "These are other people's ideas but they're not true. But it's fascinating because everyone is waiting for some news.

"For many years now you [the press] start talking about this two months before the end of the season. I can't do anything about that and even less so Mancini. I read many things in the newspapers that I find tiresome but I'm used to it and I try to rise above it."

Inter have struggled recently at home and abroad after an excellent opening to their season. They have won only two of their last nine matches. In the league they have seen their lead at the top over AS Roma cut from 11 points to four while Liverpool knocked them out of the Champions League.