Didier Drogba is keen on a January move to Serie A, according to one of the agents involved in the potential transfer of the former Chelsea striker.
The Ivory Coast star left Chelsea after winning the UEFA Champions League last season to join Shanghai Shenhua, but has been tipped to quit the Chinese club this month.
Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus have both expressed an interest in the 34-year-old and are expected to hold further talks next week.
FIFA agent Carlos Arino Bajo, who is handling the negotiations to bring Drogba to Italy with Giuseppe Bozzo, confirmed the player would be up for the challenge of playing in Serie A.
"Didier has a termination agreement with the Chinese club and I think he has a lot of possibilities to arrive in Italy in January," Bajo told tuttomercatoweb.com.
"There is real interest from Juventus and AC Milan, and it is the same from Didier regarding the transfer.
"There have been contacts with both clubs and next week we will hear from them again.
"He would love to compete in one of the world's best leagues, such as the Italian Serie A."
The central midfielder, whose short-term deal in the summer was set to expire, has been rewarded with a longer stay at Victoria Park.
The 18-year-old made his Pools debut last season against Chesterfield in April and featured against MK Dons this campaign.
He will now look to make his mark as John Hughes' side battle against relegation from npower League One.
The 26-year-old, who has been on loan at Blue Square Bet Premier Macclesfield for the first half of the campaign, is now a free agent.
Holroyd, who played under Graham Westley at Stevenage, was brought to Deepdale last January and made 20 appearances at Deepdale last season.
But he failed to break into Westley's thinking this term and now leaves the club on a free transfer.
A statement read: "Preston North End would like to thank Chris for his efforts during his time at Deepdale and wish him all the best for his future career."
