Milan hope to sign Parma’s prized striker Alberto Gilardino, according to a source at the club.

The 22-year-old, whose goal in the Serie A relegation play-off against Bologna last week helped Parma stay up, was the league’s second highest scorer with 23 goals.

“I hope to see him wearing an AC Milan shirt soon,” AC Milan vice-president Paolo Berlusconi, brother of the club’s owner Silvio, told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Milan need an out-and-out striker and Gilardino is the right man for that position. Now we’ll let (AC Milan director and transfer negotiatior) Adriano Galliani get to work.”

Milan finished second to Juventus in Serie A before losing the Champions League final to Liverpool in a penalty shoot-out.