Beckham lawyers talking with Galaxy: Galliani

David Beckham’s lawyers are in talks with LA Galaxy over a possible permanent move to AC Milan, the Italian club’s vice-president Adriano Galliani said on Wednesday.

Beckham joined Milan on loan at the end of December as he looked to keep up his match fitness during the long Major League Soccer off-season.

He wanted to stay in England manager Fabio Capello’s plans and knew that he had to be playing regularly in order to stand any chance of receiving an international call-up.

But the former England captain has been a huge success at the San Siro and since scoring twice in his first five matches the Italians are desperate to keep hold of him.

“Beckham’s lawyers are talking to Los Angeles Galaxy who are the legitmate holders of his playing licence,” said Galliani from Milan’s Malpensa airport before his team headed to Glasgow where they were due to play Rangers in a friendly on Wednesday night.

“If they make themselves available to discuss a transfer we would be delighted to talk to them.”

Galliani said, though, that he had no idea whether or not a more permanent transfer would be possible.

“Right now I’m neither optimistic, nor pessimistic. He’s Galaxy’s player, we’d be delighted if they decided to sell him but if they don’t change their plans he’s their player,” added Galliani.

“We want to sign him either on loan until the end of the season or permanently, otherwise Beckham will have to leave, to the great disappointment of everyone, including me.

“But whatever happens, right now there’s no transfer process and we haven’t made an offer, it’s Beckham’s lawyers who are talking with Los Angeles.

“We have until March 8 to discuss a possible transfer.”

Beckham’s current deal with Milan runs until March 9, when he must return to the US.

As things stand, his last match in the red and black shirt will be on March 8 at home to Atalanta.

However, Milan have shown their determination to get the most out of Beckham by including him in their list of 25 players registered to take part in the kncock-out stages of the UEFA Cup, whereas injured striker Marco Borriello has been omitted.

If Beckham does leave in early March, he can only play in the next round, whereas Borriello could potentially be fit to play in the latter stages of the competition, should Milan progress that far.

But Beckham has quickly been taken to the hearts of Milan and their fans for his industrious performances on the right of a three-man midfield and for his occasionally decisive contributions.

He scored his first goal in a 4-1 win at Bologna before netting his first direct free-kick in a 1-1 home draw with Genoa.

In Milan’s last match he set up their first two goals with pin-point crosses in the 3-0 victory at Lazio.