AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi last night gave head coach Filippo Inzaghi assurances that he will bid for Manchester United target Alessio Cerci, according to reports in Italy.
La Gazzetta dello Sport claims the San Siro giants have now made the Torino attacker their leading target for the summer transfer window.
Milan hope to engineer a player-plus-cash deal which will see former West Ham United loanee Antonio Nocerino move in the opposite direction along with a fee of around £15million.
However, United still have hope of beating the Serie A outfit to his signature as the report also reveals that Berlusconi will not pursue the matter until he has found a buyer for outcasts Robinho, Alessandro Matri and M’Baye Niang.
Farming out the trio on a permanent basis could take weeks, leaving a window of opportunity for the rest of Cerci’s suitors.
A source close to Old Trafford told Football Express News the Italy international is still on their radar and they are monitoring the situation closely.
The versatile forward, who can operate out wide on both flanks or through the middle as a supporting striker, scored 13 goals in 37 appearances for his club last term.
He has only 12 months remaining on his current contract.