AC Milan are eyeing Japan fullback Gotoku Sakai.
Sakai has enjoyed an outstanding Bundesliga season on-loan at Stuttgart from the J-League's Albirex Niigata.
Sky Italia says Milan have the 21 year-old defender under consideration as cover for Ignazio Abate.
The stumbling block is Stuttgart, however, which have the option to sign Sakai permanently at the end of this season.