Milan - AC Milan still hope to sign David Beckham from Los Angeles Galaxy permanently and view the Major League Soccer's (MLS) deadline for a deal as a "tactic", chief executive Adriano Galliani said on Saturday.

The England midfielder, on loan to Milan until March 9, has said he wants to stay at the Serie A club full-time but the MLS imposed a Friday deadline which passed without agreement. Galaxy said they now expect him to return next month.

"In the meantime Beckham is here at Milan, we'll see what happens in a month or so," Galliani told Sky television.

"It's a tactic," he added when asked about the deadline.

Italian media speculated that a deal could still be reached by the parties irrespective of the arbitrary deadline set down by the MLS during the week.

Beckham's spokesman said the player and his advisors will consider their position after Sunday's derby against Serie A leaders Inter Milan.

"David is focused on the Milan derby this Sunday. We will be addressing this early next week," Simon Oliveira told Reuters.

Beckham has the option of buying out his contract and has a clause which means he can leave Galaxy for nothing in October.