LIVERPOOL'S hopes of offloading Alberto Aquilani this summer have been plunged into doubt after AC Milan cooled on a permanent deal for the on-loan midfielder.
Aquilani is on a season's loan at San Siro, with the terms of his agreement stating if he plays 25 games he will complete a £6m transfer.
However, it has emerged substitute appearances for the Seria A club count as only half a game, meaning Aquilani is three games short of the required number of starts.
Aquilani cost £20m in 2009 and Liverpool have been trying to sell him for the last two years, despite the massive loss they will have to accept.
Now the 27 year-old faces the prospect of returning to Merseyside in the summer.