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Update 7:40PM EST
According to a report from Sport Bild (as captured by Twitter account @iMiaSanMia) that expanded on Tuesday’s earlier news (below), Bayern Munich will not consider selling Robert Lewandowski under any circumstance this summer, but would be willing to move him in 2022 if the striker is still seeking a new challenge:
From the Lewandowski camp, there are signals that a move this summer is conceivable. However, Bayern are not willing to sell this summer at any cost. For next year, however, if Lewandowski asks to leave for a new challenge, the club would be ready to negotiate [@SPORTBILD] pic.twitter.com/BWXJoruG7e
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) June 22, 2021
Right now, we can consider this as a rumor, but it does seem to link up with the news from earlier today regarding Erling Haaland potentially being a Bayern Munich target for 2022.
It’s going to be a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooong 2021/2022 season.
According to a report from Sport1 journalist Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich is not engaged in “deep” contract talks with Robert Lewandowski at this stage. More, the club is leery of saying anything — privately or publicly — about Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland for fear of upsetting the Polish Hitman.
Meanwhile, another report states that Bayern Munich is preparing to make a bid on Haaland next summer if Lewandowski is persistent with his desire to leave Bavaria. On Lewandowski’s side, his representatives are not worried about the Bavarians pursuing Haaland because they think the Norwegian phenom is too expensive for Bayern Munich:
Update #Lewandowski: Currently no deep talks about a contract extension. His mgmt assumes that #Haaland will not be an issue at #FCBayern, „too expensive“! Very deliberately bosses are keeping quiet about all the rumors surrounding EH because they don’t want to annoy RL. @SPORT1
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) June 22, 2021
While not necessarily shocking news, there has been a rumored “sensitivity” from Lewandowski’s camp regarding any talk revolving around Haaland — who many consider the ideal player to eventually take over for the Poland international.
With so many rumors floating around about Lewandowski’s desire to flirt with a move, however, the timing of the latest Lewandowski/Haaland rumor is very curious.
According to Bild (as captured by Goal journalist Ronan Murphy), the concern from Lewandowski’s camp about Haaland could be at least a little bit warranted as the German outlet is reporting that Bayern Munich could be preparing to make a bid for Haaland next summer:
Bayern Munich are considering Erling Haaland as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski next summer, according to Bild. #FCBayern #BVB
— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) June 22, 2021
Bayern Munich is unlikely to sell Lewandowski this summer (as captured by Twitter account @iMiaSanMia), but with Haaland being “affordable” at €75 million in 2022, a move is conceivable — should Lewandowski and his agent Pini Zahavi continue their media crusade for a transfer:
Bayern are already thinking about a potential Robert Lewandowski replacement if the latter wants to leave the club next year. The club is eyeing Erling Håland. Several clubs are interested in Lewandowski. The Pole is Chelsea's top target should a move for Håland fails [Bild] pic.twitter.com/JQmoXyZd9y
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) June 22, 2021
In addition, the lack of progress on contract talks is not a surprise. Bayern Munich has several more pressing issues at hand with Niklas Süle and Kingsley Coman potentially wanting to leave Bavaria this summer, while Leon Goretzka’s new deal is reportedly in the final stages of being completed.
Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, Thomas Müller, and Lewandowski are all likely on the “to do” list for the club as well....but hey, it takes sporting director Hasan “Brazzo” Salihamidzic a little time to customize each of those PowerPoint decks.
Anyway, the normal vultures have begun to circle Bavaria with news that Lewandowski might want to move on. Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United have all been linked in previous reports to wanting Lewandowski.