Roberto Mancini's agent believes his client would be interested in working in England but claims the time is not right for him to consider the vacant West Ham managerial position.

Mancini was sacked by Inter at the end of last season despite guiding the Nerazzurri to a hat-trick of Serie A titles and still having five years left on his contract at the San Siro.

The 43-year-old's name is one of a handful to be linked with the West Ham job, replacing Alan Curbishley who resigned on Wednesday, and is thought to be on a shortlist of possible candidates.

However, Giorgio De Giorgis claims Mancini will not take on a new team until finalising his compensation package with Inter.

"Until his contract situation is resolved with Inter, Roberto Mancini won't talk to other clubs: that's the way he is," De Giorgis told Radio Kiss Kiss.

"Roberto loves England and London in particular, something which he has never denied."

West Ham technical director Gianluca Nani is thought to favour an Italian coach as Curbishley's successor and the shortlist reportedly includes two more of his compatriots - former Chelsea star Gianfranco Zola and ex-Italy coach Roberto Donadoni.

Bookies' favourite Slaven Bilic also appears to be out of the running but the former Hammers defender reiterated that Upton Park would be his preferred destination if he were to venture into Premier League management.

Bilic was quoted this morning saying he would honour his contract with as Croatian national coach which runs until the 2010 World Cup.

He told he told Croatian sports daily Sportske Novosti: "I always said West Ham will be my choice when I return to England.

"However, my contract with the Croatian FA expires in 2010 and I am intending to lead Croatia in this period."

Croatian FA president Vlatko Markovic had earlier warned the Hammers they would face "mission impossible" if they pursued the 39-year-old rising star of European management.