Riccardo Montolivo AC Milan
Arsenal made contact over AC Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo, claimed the player's agent. Reuters

Arsenal reportedly made contact over the potential availability of AC Milan midfielder Riccardo Montolivo, according to the player's agent.

The Gunners were in the market for a midfielder in the January transfer window, with Arsene Wenger eventually landing Kim Kallstrom from Spartak Moscow on loan for the rest of the season.

That move has been criticised, however, with the Swedish international yet to make a single appearance for Arsenal so far due to a back injury.

Montolivo moved from Fiorentina to AC Milan in 2012 and was heralded as the heir apparent to the incomparable Andrea Pirlo.

With Milan struggling in the Serie A, and facing an uphill battle to get past Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, reports have suggested some of the players could move on in the summer.

According to Montolivo's agent Giovanni Branchini, the player received interest, not only from Arsenal, but also Borussia Dortmund and Atletico.

Branchini, though, played down the chances of his client leaving, insisting Montolivo was settled in Milan.

"Milan have had a difficult season so far and I think I can say that Riccardo Montolivo has been one of the brightest notes," Branchini told Calciomercato.

"He became a fixture of the Rossoneri and was even given the captain's armband as proof. He is very happy with the club to which he belongs, and the club and fans are very satisfied with him.

"An extension? He has a contract until June 2016, so it is not a priority to talk about an extension at this time. That's a discussion we'll have, I think, next year.

"Has there been interest from other clubs? There have been tentative enquiries from Atletico Madrid, [Dortmund manager Jurgen] Klopp and Arsenal, to name a few.

"All were trying to ascertain whether Montolivo was available. At the moment, however, I feel it would be very difficult for the player to leave Milan, precisely because of what I said before."

Arsenal are expected to be busy in the summer, but a midfielder is not thought to be one of Wenger's priorities at the moment, with a potent striker with pace clearly being the need of the hour.