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Robert Lewandowski has gotten off to a flying start for Bayern Munich so far in the 2017/2018 campaign. In all competitions, the Polish international has already scored 15 times from a total of 17 appearances and is currently the Bundesliga’s top scorer with 11 goals from as many matches. Lewandowski is averaging a goal for every 84 minutes; at the very least, you can theoretically expect a goal per match from him.
Lewandowski was rather outspoken after the summer transfer window with his opinion that Bayern Munich should be spending more money to acquire top tier talents. His remarks weren’t warmly received by the club’s front office, though he does pose a fair argument in a transfer market that’s become exceedingly inflated.
In a Poland press conference ahead of their friendly against Uruguay, Lewandowski was asked again about Bayern’s lack of high-priced transfers and he proceeded to echo the stance he took just a few months ago (via Bild):
If you look at yourself, at how much money other clubs invest in transfers, then Bayern Munich has to come up with something and get more creative. The club has to be able to keep up with transfers for the best players. We shouldn’t let ourselves be blind to that. Every two or three years, every club needs a top player, who brings the team new qualities and a breath of fresh air.
Regardless of where Bayern may look to bolster their squad in the upcoming winter transfer window, and then in the summer window, it remains overwhelmingly clear that they do not possess a quality backup striker. It’s an area that needs addressing. In Bayern’s 2-1 over Celtic in the Champions League when Lewandowski was left out for precautionary reasons, they looked a different side without their usual precision in front of goal. Lewandowski himself even alluded to the pressure he faces being the main man up front in an interview with Bild back at the end of October:
It is really hard on me this season. I'm starting now every three days for Bayern Munich and for the [Polish] national team. But no player can play 90 minutes in every game in a season. But at the moment there is no alternative. We [i.e. Bayern] don't have a backup at my position.
Whilst depth is quite scarce in the striking position at Bayern, sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic did suggest that the club are going to pursue high-caliber targets in the upcoming transfer windows. In particular, he made references to Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic, Hertha Berlin’s Vedad Ibisevic, Schalke’s Leon Goretzka, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Julian Draxler.