Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches has opted to snub advances from Premier League’s Chelsea in order to pursue a move to AC Milan this summer.

The Portugal international is likely to join the Rossoneri on a temporary basis with Bayern hoping that the player will evolve into a top-class prospect in the future.

Sanches, 19, struggled to make a regular appearance in the German top-flight last season, and he was restricted to just six starts through the campaign. Following last week’s 3-2 friendly win over Chelsea, Sanches admitted that he would prefer to join AC Milan, where he would get more of an opportunity to progress, he said: “Of course, I would like to play more that’s why I want to change and go to a club where I would play more. AC Milan is an interesting option. If the opportunity emerges and the clubs can agree, I would like to know. I’m young, I want and I have to play a lot. I think the chance to do so is greater in Milan than in Munich.”

Since then, Chelsea are said to have made contact with the player with Antonio Conte personally communicating with the Bayern’s hierarchy regarding his situation. The Blues are likely to be without an experienced backup for the start of the season with Cesc Fabregas and N’Golo Kante set to make the starting lineup whilst summer signing Tiemoue Bakayoko is sidelined with a knee problem until September.

Meanwhile, Nemanja Matic has nearly secured his switch to Manchester United with a medical alleged to have already been completed. Sanches would have been the perfect fit for Conte, who prefers offer youngsters with starts in the Cup games, but Sanches has decided against the move as he wants to establish himself as a key figure in the playing XI, Fanta Gazzetta claims.

AC Milan have spent fees of over £160m to recruit 10 players in the current transfer window, and Sanches could be the next in line with both clubs likely to prefer a season-long loan.