Inter Milan are not interested in signing Diego Costa, according to their sporting director Piero Ausilio.
Responding to speculation linking the Italian side with a move for the Chelsea forward, Ausilio said the rumours could not be further from the truth.
"We need anything but a centre forward right now," Ausilio told Italy's Mediaset television. "Diego Costa's quality is not up for discussion, but if only the names of forwards are being mentioned by the media then it must mean we are working well because the players we really are interested in have not yet emerged."
Gianfranco Zola has confirmed that he held talks about managing Inter following the departure of Frank De Boer, and says he was happy to be in the running for such a prestigious job.
"It's true, I was close to the Nerazzurri," he told Sky Sport Italia. "I knew it was a much sought-after job, though, and that there were some great candidates in the running.
"I could feel the idea of coaching Inter and I would have liked it, but it was an honour all the same to be linked with the job."
In the talks he had with Inter directors, Zola said he could sense the ambition the club have.
"Their potential is enormous," he said. "Historically, Inter have a great story behind them and this gives them big guarantees. I also got the sense that they now have solid financial foundations and that they have serious intentions with a serious project. They definitely have potential."