Manchester City will not allow controversial striker Carlos Tevez to leave the Etihad Stadium at a cut price.

The Argentina international has been linked to a number of clubs around Europe since his off-field antics left him disgraced at the Premier League side.

The 27-year-old has been fined four weeks' wages by the North West club after being found guilty of misconduct, but escaped punishment after the club could not prove Roberto Mancini's allegations that he refused to play against Bayern Munich last month.

While a move away from Manchester is likely to go ahead in January, the FA Cup holders are adamant that Tevez will not be sold on the cheap.

"I can confirm that following a call between Roberto and the chairman [Khaldoon Al Mubarak] today, the club's formal position is that no offer for Carlos Tevez will be considered unless it reflects true market value," Sky Sports News quotes a club spokesman as saying.

Reports have emerged today claiming that the former Manchester United frontman may sue Mancini for defamation of character.