Milan look to keep Crespo

AC Milan are ready to step up their bid to sign Argentinian striker Hernan Crespo on a permanent transfer from Chelsea.

Milan’s vice president Adriano Galliani, who handles the day-to-day running of the club for owner Silvio Berlusconi, expressed his determination on Friday that Crespo remain an integral part of the Rossoneri squad.

Galliani also revealed Chelsea made a firm approach for Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko last summer.

“After the acquisition of (Johann) Vogel and (Marek) Jankulovski, we will meet (Chelsea chief executive) Peter Kenyon at Milan’s headquarters,” he said to www.acmilan.com.

“We will speak about Hernan Crespo, a player that we absolutely want to keep. Our aim is to confirm the 11 players (starters) of Istanbul as our base for next season – a group that has nevertheless proved to be the strongest in Europe.”

Galliani acknowledges that a Milan player could end up joining Chelsea. “We have respect for the English club, for the way they have always approached any eventual negotiation,” Galliani said. “Kenyon is negotiating with (Kakha) Kaladze but he did ask us for permission beforehand.

“(Roman) Abramovich did the same thing not more than a year ago with Sheva (Shevchenko), we told him to let it go and he didn’t make an offer.”

However Galliani refused to be drawn on speculation that the Rossoneri are interested in signing Parma striker Albert Gilardino, who is also thought to be a target of Chelsea and Juventus.