Roberto Mancini: 'Difficult to sign Karim Bellarabi'

Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini has admitted that while he is interested in acquiring Bayer Leverkusen attacker Karim Bellarabi, it will be difficult to sign the German international in the January transfer window.

Bellarabi, 25, has been linked with a move away from Germany in recent months and it is understood that Inter are leading the race to sign him.

Mancini has said that there is interest for Inter's part, but the Italian is doubtful that a deal will be struck in the winter window.

"He is a good player, but he is playing in the Champions League with Bayer Leverkusen and will be difficult to sign in January," Mancini told Corriere dello Sport.

Bellarabi, who has been with Leverkusen since 2011, has scored once in 10 appearances for his national team.