[D-Kin]

Reports in Italy are gathering pace that Barcelona full-back Gianluca Zambrotta is a summer target for Milan.

The Italian international was close to joining the Rossoneri after the World Cup Finals, but instead opted for a foreign adventure once Juventus were demoted to Serie B.

The versatile defender – who can play on both flanks – did have his difficulties in adapting to his new surroundings and La Liga, but denied he was set for another move.

However, the Spanish giants don’t consider him untransferable and Milan are looking to boost their full-back options for 2007-08.

The Italian giants could potentially have a shortage at the back given that Marcos Cafu and Serginho are rumoured to be on their way out, while Giuseppe Favalli turned 35 in January.

Now whispers in the peninsula claim that Zambrotta’s agent, Beppe Bonetto, is expected to hold talks with Barca directors in Spain over the weekend to assess his options.

The Camp Nou outfit invested £7m in him last summer and Milan hope that a similar amount of money will be sufficient to bring him back to Italy, seeing that he is already 30.

The former Como and Bari player had recently stated that he wanted to honour his Barcelona contract until it expires in 2010.

channel4.com - Football Italia