AC Milan and lawyers for David Beckham were set to begin negotiations Thursday for the loan of the English star to the Serie A powerhouse.

The ANSA news agency quoted Milan vice president Adriano Galliani as saying that representatives of the 33-year-old midfielder advanced the date of a meeting originally scheduled for next week.

"We are kicking off the negotiation," Galliani said. "I don't know if it will have a positive ending or not, but I hope it will."

AC Milan are interested in acquiring Beckham on loan for several months from Los Angeles Galaxy during the off-season break in the MLS.

Beckham could officially join Milan when the transfer window reopens on January 1.