AC Milan Want Barcelona Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic

AC Milan are leading the chase to sign Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, according to Sport.

Barcelona have recently secured the signing of Valencia forward David Villa for a reported fee of 34 million pound. With Barcelona also chasing Arsenal skipper Fabregas, they could offload Zlatan for a cut price deal to fund a move for Fabregas.

Barcelona signed Ibrahimovich last summer from Inter Milan for a fee of 46 million euros and the exchange of Eto'o (valued at 20 million euros ), making the total fee a staggering 66 million euros. This broke a transfer record to become the second highest transfer in football history. He signed for an annual salary of 14.5 million euros including bonuses.

But Ibrahimovic failed to live up to expectations, managing a mere 16 league goals and finishing on sixth place in the Pichichi standings.

AC Milan, on the other hand, are looking to strengthen their attacking options with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who has failed to make the grade at the San Siro since moving from Real Madrid last summer, and the ageing Filippo Inzaghi the only recognised strikers in the squad.

Ibrahimovic also enjoys a healthy reputation in Italy, after two successful spells at Juventus and Inter Milan.

Barcelona will be looking for a fee in the region of 60 million euros. That figure is likely to be deemed excessive by Milan, who have always said there would be no grandiose spending this summer.

Last month, Milan's holding company Fininvest suggested spending would be curbed to fall in line with economic plans to cut costs across all sectors.

Milan have also been recently linked with a move for Juventus forward Amauri, with Marco Borriello going the other way.