MILAN, Italy — David Beckham's deal with AC Milan is "at an advanced stage" but not yet done, club vice president Adriano Galliani said.

Milan wants to sign Beckham to a loan deal that would allow the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder and former England captain to play in Italy's Serie A for a few months starting in January.

"The deal is not done yet. We have to define everything with his lawyers and the Galaxy," Galliani told Conto TV before Thursday's UEFA Cup match with Heerenveen. "I'm confident but it is absolutely not closed."

With the Major League Soccer season in the United States nearly over, Beckham is eager to join another club in Europe so he can remain match-fit and keep his place on England's squad for World Cup qualifying.

England coach Fabio Capello has said he will not pick players who are not active, and Galliani appeared to suggest that the midfielder could stay in Italy beyond the term of the original deal.

"We will have time in the upcoming weeks to go over the deal in full agreement with the Galaxy," Galliani said. "We don't want to undermine the Californian club. The deal is under way and at an advanced stage but it's absolutely not concluded. I don't want to be a pessimist but I can't guarantee something that is not guaranteed."