Ukrainian superstar Andriy Shevchenko has confirmed that he plans to leave AC Milan this summer, with Chelsea his likely destination.

The 29-year-old striker met with Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani on Friday to thrash out his future, having recently revealed he is not happy in Italy.

The Rossoneri had hoped the offer of an improved contract would tempt him to stay on, but Shevchenko insisted money was not an issue for him.

"I'm leaving for family reasons," he told the Serie A club's official website.

"I thank the club for all they've given me. There's no relationship problem and there's no economic problem."

It is believed the reason for Shevchenko's decision is that his American wife is keen to move to London.

A disappointed Galliani said: "It's a victory of the English language over the Italian language.

"I tried to convince him to stay up until the minute before the press conference. It's certainly the most painful separation since I've been at Milan."

Negotiations with Chelsea are set to start in the next few days, but Galliani warned the Premiership champions that Milan do not intend to allow Shevchenko to leave on the cheap and added that negotiations "will not be easy".

Shevchenko joined Milan from Dynamo Kyiv in 1999 and has since found the target 173 times, making him the club's second highest scorer of all time.