Massimiliano Allegri expects AC Milan duro Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to stay

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is adamant Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva will not be sold this summer.

Sweden striker Ibrahimovic and Brazil centre-half Silva have both been linked with Manchester City since the Serie A season finished but Allegri is confident the pair will still be at the San Siro beyond the summer.

"The club and the president are keen to maintain AC Milan at a high level," Allegri told the AC Milan television station.

"Ibrahimovic and Thiago will remain here.

"Thiago is young and Ibrahimovic can also give a lot.

"They are two champions on which Milan can build its basis for the future.

"The club is only working on replacing those players that have left."

Ibrahimovic, 30, divides opinion but his record is impressive - he was the top scorer in the Italian top flight last season with 28 goals in 31 games. He is under contract at Milan until June 2015.

Twenty-seven-year-old Silva, whose deal runs until June 2016, has emerged as one of the best central defenders in Europe and has also been linked with Barcelona and Paris St Germain.

PA