Milan promise new signings as players reconvene

MILAN, July 23 (Reuters) European champions AC Milan have reassured anxious supporters that reinforcements are on the way despite the squad returning to training today with no new additions following the close-season break.

Players gathered at the training ground exactly two months after their seventh European Cup triumph over Liverpool in Athens and two weeks after most sides began pre-season work.

No one has yet signed despite the club saying they would buy one of Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchenko and Brazil youngster Alexandre Pato.

''With the current squad we have we could say that we will do well next season. However we are in talks about two attackers, two champions, and we are confident at least one can play with us,'' Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi told a news conference.

Internacional's Pato, who excelled for Brazil at the Under-20 World Cup which has just finished in Canada, looks set to join in January as Barca President Joan Laporta will not sell Eto'o or Ronaldinho despite beating Milan to Arsenal's Thierry Henry.

''If the Barcelona president sold Ronaldinho he would have to emigrate,'' Berlusconi added.

SHEVCHENKO STAYS Drogba seems ready to stay at Chelsea along with Shevchenko, despite numerous attempts by Milan to bring the Ukrainian back.

Berlusconi has said Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich wants too much for Shevchenko, who struggled in his first year in England following a 30 million pound move.

Media reports have also said Shevchenko wants to stay in London for another season to try to prove his worth.

Milan let ineffective strikers Marco Borriello join Genoa and Ricardo Oliveira go on loan to Real Zaragoza and are left with just inconsistent Alberto Gilardino, 33-year-old Filippo Inzaghi and controversial January signing Ronaldo up front.

''Ronaldo is still young and I am sure he wishes to do well and demonstrate that he is still a champion,'' Berlusconi said.

Milan's best bit of business during the close-season though was to repel Real Madrid's advances for playmaker Kaka.

''Kaka is an indispensible player, a great image for Milan. I see no reason why things could change,'' Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti added.

He said his squad was already stronger than last year because Ronaldo is not cup-tied for the Champions League and he has several players back from injury.

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