Manchester United Transfer News: Renato Sanches Explains Snub, Top Rumours

Teenage sensation Renato Sanches has "hinted" why he chose Bayern Munich over Manchester United last May, stating the Bundesliga champions have a superior pool of talent.

According to Simon Rice for the Metro, the UEFA Euro 2016 winner with Portugal opted for a switch to Germany because of a "lack of world-class players" at Old Trafford compared to Bayern. Sanches penned a £30 million transfer deal to sign from Benfica but has since struggled to maintain a starting berth.

Sanches said:

"

[Bayern] really put in a lot of effort and I immediately got a feeling the people in charge believed in me as a player. That was the decisive factor behind my decision to join.

[Carlo] Ancelotti always looks calm and in charge. You can just see he has a lot of experience. He is getting involved with his players a lot and is helping players to make individual progress.

But I am also playing alongside a lot of world-class players here. I can learn from all of them, especially from the players who play in midfield like Arturo Vidal, Xabi Alonso and Thiago Alcantara.

"

The 19-year-old prodigy has made just 15 appearances for the German champions in the Bundesliga this term, according to WhoScored.com, only making the starting lineup on five occasions. 

Here is the player in action:

United manager Jose Mourinho recently took a swipe at the player as he questioned Sanches' decision to move to Bavaria, per Rice.

"There is a Portuguese kid, Renato Sanches, who is a European champion. But he doesn't play in Bayern Munich," said Mourinho. "The last match he played, they lost to Hoffenheim. Will he play in the [UEFA] Champions League quarter-finals? I have my doubts."

United's absence from the Champions League will have also played on Sanches' thoughts last summer, and the club could see a repeat of the issues as they attempt to lure Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid, who remain a mainstay in the tournament.

Nils Petter Nilsson/Getty Images

According to James Cambridge of the Express, United's world-record signing Paul Pogba has told his compatriot and good friend that the lack of Champions League football should not impact joining him at the Theatre of Dreams.

Pogba said:

"

When I signed here I knew I would play Europa League but it wasn't a problem.

I came here for a big challenge. The challenge is to go back to the Champions League and players [potential signings] know that.

So if he can help the team, for myself it's not a problem because we want to do big things.

To do big things we need big players too.

It would be good to have big players with us to go and do this challenge. For myself personally it’s not a problem.

"

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Pogba and Griezmann have developed a strong bond while featuring for France together, and they have publicly displayed their affection for each other on a number of occasions, per Telefoot (h/t Thomas Bristow of the Mirror).

United have played a strong brand of football under Mourinho, avoiding defeat for a number of months in all competitions, but the team is short of world-class goalscorers.

The starting XI is over overreliant on Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the final third, and Mourinho must purchase a player in the mould of Griezmann or Romelu Lukaku.

United have traditionally always had four strikers in their squad, allowing sufficient rotation of threat and goals at the point of the attack.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial remain bright prospects for United, but neither youngster has the developed predatory instincts required in place.