Milan set for Gilardino talks

AC Milan are now ready to begin negotiations with Parma for the acquisition of rumoured Chelsea target Alberto Gilardino.

Milan vice-president Paolo Berlusconi, brother of owner Silvio, is confident that the Italian international will be a Milan player this summer.

Gilardino's transfer to the San Siro was delayed due to the striker being involved in the relegation play-offs with Parma.

The 22-year-old ended in style his adventure with the Gialloblu club having struck the all-important goal on Saturday to allow Parma to defend their Serie A status, confirming his own calibre in the process.

"We have to let (vice-president) Adriano Galliani work," Berlusconi told the club's official website, www.acmilan.com.

"Up to two days ago Gilardino was involved with Parma in the relegation games."

Gilardino finished as the second highest scorer in Serie A for the past two campaigns, behind AC Milan's Andriy Shevchenko in 2004 and Livorno's Cristiano Lucarelli this year.

Berlusconi says the player Milan would love to sign is Brazil's phenomenon Ronaldinho but it is an impossible task as he is set to sign a contract extension with Barcelona.

"The dream signing? The dream would be Ronaldinho," admitted Berlusconi. "But that desire is locked up in a safe, it's only a dream then you have to wake up in the morning."