Chelsea have received a huge blow in their pursuit of Robert Lewandowski, who had a change of heart following a disappointing World Cup.
According to the recent report German football magazine SportBild, Robert Lewandowski has chosen to remain put at Bayern Munich next season.
The Polish international revealed his wish to leave the Bundesliga a few weeks ago, which had alerted several top clubs around Europe. In fact, his agent Pini Zahavi confirmed last month that his agent was seeking “a new challenge”. His initial plan was to seal a move to a big club this summer following a good performance in the World Cup.
Chelsea were one of the teams keen on securing his services this summer but as per sources, Lewandowski is now happy to stay at Bayern following a disappointing World Cup campaign. The former Dortmund striker failed to find the net as Poland were knocked out in the group stages.
The arrival of newly appointed Niko Kovac might have played a role in Lewandowski’s stay at Bayern. The former Eintracht coach praised the Polish hitman soon after his presentation last Monday, stating, “I am looking forward to working with him. He has done a lot for the club and will continue to do so in the future.”
“I think he’s a world-class striker and told him how important he is for me and the team,” Kovac said.
“I told him how much I rate him — every player, every person needs this. “
Lewandowski is now excited to be playing under the Croatian mastermind in the upcoming season as Bayern look to make an impression in Europe.
This could be a huge blow for Chelsea, however, who are still actively looking for a replacement for Alvaro Morata this summer. Despite a strong start to the campaign, the Spaniard found it difficult to sort his feet out in the English top flight, scoring just one league goal since the turn of the year. Therefore, a move out of Stamford Bridge is imminent once Chelsea sort out their managerial problems.
Despite boasting a strong team, the Blues could face a plethora of problems next season, especially in the attacking department. Star players Willian and Eden Hazard are linked with moves out of Stamford Bridge while the likes of Pedro and Morata have failed to step up to the plate last season. Thus, the addition of Lewandowski could have been a boost for the club.
The 29-year-old has an ample amount of experience in the German top flight as well as the UEFA Champions League. Throughout his years playing at two of the best teams in the Bundesliga, Lewandowski has boasted excellent scoring record, netting 180 leagues goals in just 257 appearances.
In addition, he is also regarded as one of the most complete strikers in world football, largely thanks to his all-around qualities in front of goal. Therefore, missing out on this proven goalscorer will be a huge blow for Chelsea.
However, the Blues have been linked with another highly rated attacker in the shape of Gonzalo Higuain in recent weeks. The Argentine international will appear as a relatively cheaper alternative and will be easier to sign as well thanks to his healthy relationship with Maurizio Sarri, who is rumored to be replacing Conte at the helm this summer.
