Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have reportedly told Barcelona to present their first formal offer for Robert Lewandowski.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Bayern Munich could be warming up to the idea of Robert Lewandowski’s departure from the Allianz Arena in the summer transfer window. The Bundesliga champions have asked Barcelona to submit their first formal offer for the Polish forward.
Robert Lewandowski has carved a lasting legacy for himself in the Bundesliga, scoring goals for fun during his stints with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. The 33-year-old has been performing on another level altogether in the last few years, where he has been arguably the best striker in the game.
Lewandowski has enjoyed an excellent 2021/22 campaign, amassing 50 goals and seven assists in 46 appearances across all competitions. But Lewandowski has a year left on his Bayern Munich contract, leaving the Bavarian giants in a spot of bother. The player’s contract situation has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona reportedly keen on signing him.
The interest from Barcelona stems from their inability to replace Luis Suarez following the veteran Uruguayan striker’s departure from Camp Nou two years ago. While Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been a solid addition to the first-team squad at Camp Nou, the former Arsenal captain tends to blow hot and cold these days.
Robert Lewandowski to @viaplaysportpl: “It’s very possible that this was my last game for Bayern. I cannot say that at 100%, but it may have been [my last game]. We want to find the best solution for me and for the club”. ? #FCBayern @iMiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/ofjrdL7fxw
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 14, 2022
Barcelona will need to sign a new striker anyway because Martin Braithwaite wants to leave to play more prominently at another club. At the same time, Barcelona will not sign Luuk de Jong permanently once his loan deal expires. Lewandowski is thus a viable target for the Blaugrana, with the Bayern Munich forward reportedly pushing to move to Camp Nou.
The Bundesliga champions are now warming up to the idea of selling Lewandowski, with the report claiming they have asked Barcelona to present their first formal offer for the 33-year-old. The latest development comes in the wake of comments from Lewandowski and Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.
While Lewandowski hinted he may have played his final game for Bayern Munich, Salihamidzic confirmed that the Polish international wants to leave. The Bayern Munich sporting director said, “I spoke to ‘Lewa’. During the conversation, he told me that he doesn’t want to accept our offer to extend his contract and that he would like to leave the club.”
But Salihamidzic also added that Bayern Munich’s position remains unchanged and that they will look to keep hold of Lewandowski for the duration of his contract. The comments come in contrast to the claims from the report, but it will be interesting to see how Barcelona will respond to the latest development.