04/12/2001

MILAN TARGET NEW FORWARD AS INZAGHI GOES FOR OP

AC Milan are looking for a new striker following confirmation that Filippo Inzaghi needs surgery on his injured knee.

Serhiy Rebrov is thought to be in the frame, although Milan forward Andriy Shevchenko said reports of an imminent deal were "just rumours".

The Ukrainian added: "Serhiy is a friend and a great footballer, but I don't want to say anything about the speculation. I am just a player, so I would be the last one to know anyway. Perhaps you should ask the club president..."

Rebrov has rarely featured for Tottenham Hotspur this season, although he is likely to get a run in the side over the next couple of months as fellow forward Les Ferdinand badly twisted an ankle on Monday night and left White Hart Lane on crutches.

Meanwhile, Inzaghi will have his operation in Rome on Wednesday. Dr Andrea Campi, the Lazio medical director and head physician at San Giacomo hospital, is to carry out the surgery.

Shevchenko said: "I am disappointed for Pippo, but now he has to rest, trust in the doctors and not even think about the World Cup. I am looking forward to his return.

"We will play with only one forward in the Uefa Cup (against Sporting Lisbon) because Javi Moreno is not ready after his injury (the Spaniard was back in training on Tuesday), while Vitali Kutuzov and Marco Simone are not on our Uefa squad list.

"Milan are blessed with so many great players. Now we have to show that an injury need not alter our ambitions."

Inzaghi revealed that the ligament problem sustained on Sunday came just when he felt he was hitting peak form. "I was in a good moment, physically and mentally," he said.

"I hope to find Milan in the same position they are now when I make my comeback. The Scudetto is my first aim for the season.

"As for the clash with (Chievo goalkeeper) Cristiano Lupatelli, I felt a lot of pain, but at first I thought it was just the impact. A few seconds later, I realised it was knee trouble.

"I just want to say thank you to the Milan president Silvio Berlusconi, who called me yesterday, as Umberto Agnelli (the Juventus honorary chief) did later. It is nice that such great people are worried about my health."

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti is believed to want a quick replacement for Inzaghi as he is not convinced by the quality of former Alaves forward Moreno or veteran Simone, who returned from Monaco recently.

Kutuzov, a shock signing from Bate Borisov who the Rossoneri beat in the Uefa Cup first round, is considered an interesting prospect, but not ready to play alongside Shevchenko in major matches.

Any move for Rebrov might include an offer of Moreno in part-exchange, although Ancelotti is also thought to be interested in Lazio targetman Darko Kovacevic.

The Yugoslav has declared his intention to leave Rome, possibly for Real Sociedad, but Ancelotti had him in his squad at Juventus and always talked highly of a player who has rarely shown consistent form in Serie A.

[Onefootball.com]