MILAN - AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said Friday that negotiations are on the "right track" to keep David Beckham at the Italian club for the rest of the season.
Galliani said he was confident of reaching an agreement with the Los Angeles Galaxy, but dispelled British news reports that a deal was already completed.
"We continue to exchange papers with the Galaxy, with small corrections here and there, so we are almost there," Galliani told reporters in Milan. "It's not yet official because it's not signed yet, but we are on the right track."
"I am very optimistic," he said. "There are many chances that David will stay with us until June 30."
Britain's Sky Sports News and Press Association quoted sources saying that Beckham will stay through the Italian league season before returning to the Galaxy in the summer.
The England midfielder will play for the Galaxy between July and October and return to Milan next season, the reports said.
Beckham has been on loan at Milan for two months and was due to return to the Major League Soccer team next week. He has repeatedly expressed his desire to stay at Milan.
Galliani said earlier this week that a deal allowing him to extend his stay was near.
The 33-year-old Beckham wants to remain with Milan to improve his chances of making England's team for next year's World Cup.
He has scored two goals in 11 games for the Italian team and looked in his best form since leaving Real Madrid two years ago.
Beckham joined the Galaxy on a five-year contract worth US$32.5 million when he left Madrid, but early struggles with his fitness and the demands of travelling back to Europe to play for England lessened his impact.
