Bayern Munich are believed to have opened negotiations with AC Milan over the purchase of defender Kakha Kaladze.

The Bundesliga giants are searching for cover in the centre of the defence following Lucio's sale to Inter and Martin Demichelis' knee injury.

Kaladze, according to Tuttosport, would be offloaded by the Rossoneri for a fee in the region of €4 million.

Milan's vice-president Adriano Galliani is said to have welcomed Bayern's interest in the Georgian, who has slipped steadily down the pecking order at San Siro.

Kaladze managed only 15 games in all competitions due to injury last season, and is expected to be kept out of a first XI spot by Alessandro Nesta, Thiago Silva and Oguchi Onyewu despite his recovery.

Bayern, meanwhile, will be hoping that the Georgian can provide stability in central defence considering their injury problems.