AC Milan are ready to step up their bid for Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch.

The Mirror says Milan noted Crouch's performance against them in the UEFA Cup last term and while he did not initially feature on their target list, that has now changed.

The Serie A giants, who accept that Wolfsburg's Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko is staying in Germany for one more season, have been put off by Emmanuel Adebayor's demands for a salary of £4m per season after tax, making Crouch a viable alternative.

Portsmouth would be unlikely to stand in Crouch's way if a bid of £12m materialised which would give the giant striker a great opportunity to prove his credentials to England coach Fabio Capello.