AC Milan preparing bid for Manchester United misfit Dimitar Berbatov

AC Milan are preparing to rescue Dimitar Berbatov from his Manchester United nightmare.

The Italian giants have made the United striker, who has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford, one of their top transfer targets this summer.

Goal.com UK understands that Milan's top brass have drawn up a shortlist of players they want to beef up a squad that has underachieved this season, and one of their priorities is signing a world-class front man who can play with his back to goal.

Berbatov is viewed as a replacement for Dutchman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who has scored just seven goals since his summer switch from Real Madrid.

“Milan like Berbatov and are confident they can get him,” an insider said. “He has not been playing regularly at United and it is possible he could be available.

“Everyone knows he is a top player and a lot of clubs will be viewing his situation with interest.”

Sources say the Rossoneri would be unwilling to pay more than half the £30.75 million that United paid when they bought the 29-year-old from Tottenham Hotspur in the final minutes of the 2008 summer transfer window.

Publicly, Berbatov has said that he would like to stay at Old Trafford, but privately it is believed he is willing to listen to offers.

Although the Bulgarian’s record of 26 goals from 62 United starts is not unimpressive, he has rarely been given the nod by Sir Alex Ferguson in the marquee fixtures.

The only game he has started against United’s big-four rivals this season was the Premier League defeat at home to Chelsea and, in the Champions League, Ferguson has also preferred to play Wayne Rooney alone up front.

Indeed, the United boss opted for a half-fit Rooney against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final second leg rather than risk Berbatov.

In United’s 7-2 aggregate win over Milan in the Champions League, Berbatov was restricted to just 24 minutes as a substitute over the two legs.

Although the future of Milan coach Leonardo is uncertain after a campaign in which the club have not figured in the title race – they are seven points behind leaders Roma in third place – the 17-times Serie A champions and seven-times Champions League winners are already drawing up their main transfer targets.

Huntelaar is not the only Milan forward who has struggled to score regularly this season.

The club’s top scorer is Italian international Marco Borriello with 15 goals, including five in their last four games, followed by Brazilian duo Alexandre Pato (14) and Ronaldinho (12).

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