AC Milan favourites to pursue Bayern Munich midfielder

AC Milan have reportedly been offered a free run to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches with Chelsea no longer in the hunt for his services. The Portugal international has been widely tipped to leave Bayern Munich on loan this summer following a frustrating maiden campaign last term where he managed just six Bundesliga starts.

According to Football Italia h/t Mediaset Premium, the Rossoneri are prepared to extend their spree for the summer with Sanches the latest player on their radar. The San Siro outfit have recruited as many as ten players from the transfer market including the marquee signing of defender Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus. Despite this, the former Italian champions are actively pursuing players this month with a striker and a central midfielder marked as priorities before the transfer deadline.

Sanches has had a mixed spell during pre-season, but the club’s hierarchy have highlighted that he would only be available on loan as he is considered as a top-class prospect for the future. Premier League holders Chelsea had also enquired on Sanches following their 3-2 friendly defeat to Bayern last month, but they appear to have shifted their focus with Antonio Conte now on the lookout for a relatively experienced midfielder to bolster his ranks.

Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater has been identified as the Blues target to replace Nemanja Matic, who recently left for Manchester United, and this has provided Milan with a clear route to pursue Sanches this summer. The Bavarian giants are holding out for a loan fee for their promising teenager, but the Rossoneri are likely to extend discussions with the prospect of including a buy-option in his contract.

Sanches was named as the Young Player of the Tournament at Euro 2016 where Portugal lifted their first major trophy, but he has since had a tough spell in his career with a move to the Allianz Arena not working out the way he would have liked.

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