Bundesliga

FC Bayern: Saga Robert Lewandowski

Published

2 weeks ago

May 13, 2022

Hasan Salihamdizic is particularly in focus after Robert Lewandowski's change request.

Robert Lewandowski’s announcement that he does not want to extend his contract at Bayern puts Hasan Salihamidzic under pressure. His reaction to the situation could even be decisive for his own future with the record champions.

Robert Lewandowski will not extend his contract, which runs until 2023. Hopefully the Bayern bosses aren’t surprised. Because it has been clear throughout the season that this scenario could occur.

If sports director Hasan Salihamidzic or CEO Oliver Kahn were asked about it, the answers were always the same. Lewandowski still has a contract. You will sit down together in peace in good time.

But Lewandowski is no longer interested in that. One has to hope for the Bavarians that the always soothing statements were only smokescreens for the public and that in the background the planning for the storm of the future was already being pushed at full speed.

Because it’s actually a situation that is now part of everyday life for those responsible for sport: A player’s contract expires at the end of the coming season. If you don’t want to go empty handed, you have to sell. The Bayern bosses recently experienced this worst-case scenario painfully with David Alaba and Niklas Süle, who were able to leave on a free transfer.

Lewy wants to go: These strikers could inherit him from Bayern

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Quarter-finals in the Champions League, not in the cup for a long time anyway – now Bayern only has the league left. But how long will Robert Lewandowski stay with them?

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There have been numerous rumors about the superstar recently, but his favorite target is said to be FC Barcelona. Lewandowski still has a year’s contract – but there would be no transfer fee in 2023 either. Do Bayern have to prepare for a departure?

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The club management around Oliver Kahn is in demand. As reported by Sport Bild, there should be a note with alternatives in the drawer of the squad planner. SPOX shows who could replace the 33-year-old.

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BENJAMIN SESKO: The 18-year-old is currently under contract with RB Salzburg and usually only makes short appearances there. He has a fine technique, a good degree and has good qualifications in athletics.

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The Slovenian is even a little reminiscent of Lewandowski because he actively participates in the game and has a good sense of space. Compared to the Pole, he is physically a bit smaller.

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But that was also Lewandowski when he switched to BVB. Exactly that is the sticking point: In Austria, Sesko is currently directly involved in a goal about every 100 minutes. But is he ready for the big step?

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SASA KALAJDZIC: Bayern hit 38 crosses against Villarreal. If that should be the concept for the future, Kalajdzic might even be the best choice. The 24-year-old is a headball monster, but not as strong on the ball as others.

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For VfB, however, he is a guarantee of survival with his goals. His contract expires in 2023 and kicker reported in March that negotiations had been suspended. Estimated cost: 20 million euros.

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Sport Bild even reports on talks between FC Bayern and the player’s management in January. But would it be the big solution that Munich would need if Lewandowski were to change?

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PATRIK SCHICK: Like Sesko and Kalajdzic, he is also on the supposed list of Lewandowski alternatives that Bayern are said to have made. The 26-year-old played an outstanding season for Leverkusen.

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In 26 competitive games, the Czech scored 20 times and prepared three more goals. Then he dropped out with a hamstring tear. Schick is quite a complete striker who likes to go deep. Ideal for Nagelsmann’s intended speed football?

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Leverkusen have already put a stop to a change, but should be weak with a transfer fee of 75 million euros. That could be too much for Bayern, who keep emphasizing their austerity course. But where do you prefer to save: money or goals?

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TIMO WERNER: The national striker has often been associated with Bayern in the past. Most recently that was before he finally decided to move to Chelsea.

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He’s fast, risk-taking and good at finding the right running paths. However, he is not the most dangerous with crosses – and his goal rate no longer speaks for him.

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Werner is now notorious as a chance death. However: The developments surrounding the Chelsea sale could still be exciting and the 26-year-old is said to have toyed with a change from time to time.

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CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU: At RB Leipzig, the people of Munich only made good use of it last summer. With Nkunku, the next up-and-coming top star is now drawing attention to itself. The 24-year-old scores as he pleases.

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He is currently directly involved in a goal about every 74 minutes. Speed, technique, physique, final strength and joy of combination – theoretically the Frenchman has everything. A big question remains, however.

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Could he bring his strengths to Bayern where he would have less space? His contract in Leipzig runs until 2024, so it would probably be expensive. There should be plenty of competition with PSG and United, for example.

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PAULO DYBALA: The Argentinian has often been associated with Bayern in the past, but it never really became concrete. After seven years in Turin, the 28-year-old will now leave Juventus – free of charge!

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Dybala is also more of a hanging forward than a classic centre-forward. Bayern have enough of that with Müller and Musiala. In addition, he should demand a princely salary. At Juve he turned down an offer of 12 million euros, it is said.

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SEBASTIEN HALLER: The ex-Frankfurter went through the roof at Ajax this season. After 37 competitive games, he already had 33 goals and nine assists. In the Champions League he scored eleven times in eight games and put on two stalls.

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Haller is a classic target player, but he also has underappreciated technical ability. Nevertheless: With him, Bayern would have to adapt their offensive game – and pay a lot of money with a contract term until 2025.

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DARWIN NUNEZ: Like Sesko, Nunez is a type of player very similar to Lewandowski. However, at 22 he is already further along and more experienced than the Slovenian. He has a high work rate on the pitch, is fast and finishes well.

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Technically, he can’t quite match Lewandowski, but he’s faster. Accordingly, he is also more of a player who is looking for depth and needs speed in his game.

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Too big a question mark for a player with a market value of over €40m and a contract with Benfica that runs until 2025? Possibly. Still, he’s one of the most desirable strikers out there and worth considering.

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ADAM HLOZEK: The 19-year-old is similar to Sesko. Hlozek is currently under contract with Sparta Prague, but has already attracted the attention of half of Europe. Because of his athleticism, he can be used flexibly.

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But the question also arises as to whether the first step should lead to a top club. However, he should still be on Bayern’s note, as various media reported in January.

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ROMELU LUKAKU: He too would be a great solution – and is said to be unhappy at Chelsea. “Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Every player dreams of playing for one of these clubs,” said the Belgian earlier this year.

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In addition to a transfer fee, which should tend towards 100 million euros, there would also be a princely salary. Maybe on loan? Or any of the other options from the list?

FC Bayern: Are those responsible prepared?

Actually, those responsible and especially Salihamidzic should have been prepared for the announcement by the Lewandowski side long ago.

Apparently they were working seriously on a commitment from Erling Haaland until last weekend’s cancellation. That would have been spectacular! And would have put Bayern in a comfortable situation. Haaland would have been the striker of the future. Lewandowski’s dream club Barca could then have been signaled: “We now have two of the best strikers in the world in the squad. If you want Lewandowski, pay a reasonable price!”

But now the Lewandowski side has taken action and can put Bayern under pressure. Because Bayern know very well that they cannot afford a sulking Lewandowski without a real sporting alternative in the center of the attack for the coming season. And Lewandowski will sulk!

The already clammy FC Barcelona could use this situation to push the price down. Salihamidzic cannot wait for the outcome of the negotiations on a Lewandowski transfer with Barca and then start looking for a successor. Because Barca would have all the time in the world to haggle over the price.

FC Bayern: A new top striker must be found quickly

The only way out for Salihamidzic: He actually has to sign a real top striker quickly in order to be in a better position when negotiating the Lewandowski fee. To demonstrate: “We now have a top striker for the next few years. If necessary, we can also endure a sulking Lewandowski for a season.” That would be Bayern-like.

However, if you had put everything on the Haaland card and then extended “in peace” with Lewandowski as Plan B if it failed, that would be negligent. One could easily have predicted that world footballer Lewandowski would not publicly allow himself to be demoted to the B solution.

The question of who will become FC Bayern’s new centre-forward after record goalscorer Lewandowski is probably the most important personnel decision at Bayern Munich in recent years. Hasan Salihamidzic’s work was often criticized. His solution in the Lewandowski case will show what he can do.

Incidentally, the sports director’s own contract only runs until June 2023. The Bayern supervisory board will probably only think about a possible extension after this transfer period. How Salihamidzic regulates the Lewandowski transfer cause may even be decisive for his own future at Bayern.