AC Milan have launched a bid for Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo.

Milan are making a €7 million offer for Montolivo after losing Mathieu Flamini to knee injury.

La Nazione says Fiorentina had point-blank rejected the original loan proposal and declared he would "only be sold abroad."

However, with time running out and the player out of contract in June 2012, the Viola do not want to risk losing him on a free transfer.