AC Milan lead chase to sign Guardiola

Spanish star Pep Guardiola will confirm his new club tomorrow with AC Milan and Parma AC rivalling Fulham for the creative midfielder.

AC Milan want Guardiola to help settle a midfield that has lost Zvonomir Boban, Redondo and Rui Costa.

Costa was signed for £25 million from Fiorentina but lasted only minutes of his debut at Brescia before falling and breaking his wrist and dislocating an albow in a fall that will see him miss the next five weeks of the season.

Milan want Guardiola to replace Costa for a time and are also interested in signing SS Lazio centre back Paolo Negro ahead of tomorrow's Champions League registration deadline.

Fulham hope to sign Spanish play maker Pep Guardiola by the weekend.

The player's agent has had talks with Fulham who this week sealed the purchase of Lyon striker Steve Marlet in an £11.5 million record deal for the London club.

Guardiola is the next target as Fulham's spending tops £30 million and they are prepared to offer a four year deal to the play maker.

The midfielder left FC Barcelona in June to become a free agent and his agent says 11 offers have come in from clubs but the Spanish international – who has been dropped from the Spain squad until he finds another club to play for – is known to want to play in Italy and will decide his future tomorrow.

AC Milan made an offer two months ago for Guardiola and his agent is now following up their interest with Fulham leading the other clubs bidding for Guardiola.

Bayern Munich have denied that they will try and sign the Spaniard after injury ruled Stefan Effenberg out of their first three Champions League matches.