AC Milan is ready to buy David Beckham if the England star gets out of his contract with the LA Galaxy, Milan CEO Adriano Galliani said Tuesday.
''If the player were free we'd buy him,'' the Serie A club's chief executive told Sky TV.
Galliani said he thought the on-loan Beckham, who scored his first goal for Milan on Sunday, ''would be overjoyed as well (as us) because he's back playing with a great club''.
The Milan CEO said it the club would shortly speak to Beckham's entourage, who would then ''talk to the Galaxy if they decide to''.
''They (the entourage) know Milan is willing to buy Beckham for good but it's up to the Galaxy to decide whether to release him''.
Galliani said he did not know how much Beckham would cost because he was not privy to the player's contract with the Galaxy and didn't know whether it contained a get-out clause.
Beckham signed a five-year deal with the Galaxy in 2007, expiring in 2012.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has also said he wants Beckham to stay.
Speaking after the England midfielder scored his first Milan goal in a 4-1 win at Bologna, Ancelotti said: ''He knows our desire, if he goes it will be a disappointment because of the contribution he is giving (in terms of) quality and balance''.
The England midfielder is due to return to Major League Soccer (MLS) on March 9 but his performances have fuelled speculation he might stay with the Rossoneri, at least till the end of the Serie A season.
Some thought the 33-year-old might be a part-time marketing diva for Premier Silvio Berlusconi's club but Beckham has started all of his three games and on Sunday smashed in Milan's third with a cracking right-foot shot from just inside the box.
On Monday Ancelotti paid tribute to the down-to-earth and no-nonsense way Beckham has worked his way into the team.
''The merit is his: his ability, intelligence, professionalism and humility,'' he said.
Beckham joined Milan to get top-class soccer during the MLS's winter break and increase his chances of another call from England and former Milan manager Fabio Capello to add to his national caps tally, which currently stands at 107.
The former England captain needs only one more cap to match the 108 England record for outfield players held by Bobby Moore.
Capello will be in the stands Wednesday night when third-placed Milan host fifth-placed Genoa.
The manager is now widely expected to pick Beckham for a friendly against Spain in Seville on February 11, allowing Beckham to reach the milestone.
Goalkeeper Peter Shilton holds the record for England caps with 125.
