AC Milan have tabled a shock bid for veteran Roma defender Christian Panucci in a bid to shore up their defence.

The Rossoneri have been one of the busiest clubs in the transfer market, acquiring the likes of Gianluca Zambrotta, Marco Borriello, Mathieu Flamini, and rounding up with the sensational capture of Ronaldinho.

Following the arrival of the Brazilian, vice president Adriano Galliani then announced that Ronnie was the final piece of the Milan jigsaw and that the club would not delve into the market but rather offload two or three players.

However, Italian paper Il Messaggero now claims that Milan have lodged an official bid for 35-year-old Christian Panucci, tabling terms on a two-year contract.

Galliani has even met with Roma directors Bruno Conti and Daniele Prade over the weekend to discuss Panucci with the Italian international now firmly considering a move back to his former club.

Panucci is no stranger to the San Siro having had a distinguished spell with Milan from 1993 to 1996, winning a host of honours, including two Scudetti, a European Cup, and a UEFA Supercup.

However, he is most famously remembered for his colossus defensive display in the legendary 4-0 thrashing of Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona in the 1994 European Cup final in Athens, a performance some critics claim that Panucci has been living in the shadow of ever since.

Milan are in desperate need of some cover at the back, particularly in the centre, and Panucci’s recent performances at Euro 2008 have shown that he can still cut at the highest level.

By espnstar.com