Bundesliga

Questions and answers about Robert Lewandowski’s change request

Published

2 years ago

May 13, 2022

Robert Lewandowski has informed FC Bayern that he does not want to extend his contract with the record champions. The 33-year-old striker wants to leave FCB by 2023 at the latest. Why does Lewandowski want to leave? Where could Lewy go and how does FC Bayern react? SPOX provides answers to the most important questions about Robert Lewandowski.

FC Bayern: Why does Robert Lewandowski want to leave FCB?

There are several reasons for Robert Lewandowski’s desire to change. Basically, the 33-year-old Pole seems to be looking for a new challenge. In addition, he apparently no longer felt valued at Bayern Munich. There is the late start of talks with Lewandowski’s advisor Pini Zahavi, with whom the Munich team first spoke about a new contract in April. The current contract expires in 2023.

Lewandowski is also said to be upset that Bayern were interested in signing Erling Haaland until the very end. The Norwegian is now moving to Manchester City, but that hasn’t dampened Lewandowski’s anger. But on the contrary. In addition, the striker’s relationship with coach Julian Nagelsmann is said to be clouded, which could be an additional reason for leaving. Nagelsmann, on the other hand, always emphasizes how important it is for him to keep his best striker.

Robert Lewandowski: Statistics at FC Bayern

games	Gates	templates	yellow cards
373	343	72	36

FC Bayern: How does FCB react to Lewandowski’s change request?

The official version is: No sale before the end of the contract in 2023. But apparently the initially very stubborn “no” to a premature Lewandowski departure has changed and the tongue is apparently becoming looser. According to reports, FC Bayern could become weak from an offer of 40 million euros and at least talk about selling Lewandowski this summer.

This would prevent another regular player from being lost without a transfer and free up the budget in the short term to sign a successor. However, the Munich team must also determine for themselves whether the sporting equivalent would be given in a sale or whether a player who is still guaranteed to score more than 40 goals per season should not be kept in order to then find a successor in peace.

How quiet the search would be is also an issue. If you listen to the scene, Lewandowski would not be nearly as relaxed about staying as he was in Dortmund when BVB sentenced him to stay in the last year of his contract and then move to Bayern on a free transfer. But Lewandowski is now 33 and apparently doesn’t want to waste any more time. So Bayern are under pressure if Lewandowski is serious and wants to push through his change.

FC Bayern: Who could replace Robert Lewandowski?

There are currently a few names in circulation, although it is unclear whether FC Bayern has already taken any concrete steps if it has been clearly stated that they do not want to sell Lewandowski. Names such as Sebastien Haller, in which BVB is also interested, and the names of Patrick Schick (Bayer Leverkusen) and Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea FC) are traded. The latter in particular would hardly be financially feasible, even if Bayern would certainly have some leeway in the event of a sale including transfer fee and saved Lewandowski salary.

FC Bayern: Where does Robert Lewandowski want to go?

Robert Lewandowski’s declared goal seems to be FC Barcelona. There they speak very openly and repeatedly about the interest in Lewandowski, even though coach Xavi Hernandez expressed that a Lewandowski transfer would be “complicated”. This is probably mainly due to the fact that FC Barcelona is currently unable to pay Lewandowski at all because the financial leeway is simply not there and Barcelona would have to pull some levers to even think about it.

However, the information that has become public, according to which Lewandowski does not want to extend Bayern Munich, could also attract other interested parties. The fact that the media found out about this could be an attempt to send a signal to the market that Lewandowski is now open to offers. However, it is also clear that the alternatives are not too great. On the one hand Lewandowski wants to win the Champions League, on the other hand it costs a lot.

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: What does Lewandowski’s change request mean for Hasan Salihamidzic?

The sports board of FC Bayern Munich is under a lot of pressure. Salihamidzic is blamed for the apparently weakening squad and the loss of important top performers at no cost. Another point of criticism is that FC Bayern apparently reacted too late to one or the other player (like Antonio Rüdiger) and reinforcements were missed.

Here is our comment.

For Salihamidzic, the Lewandowski cause is the most difficult task of his tenure. If FC Bayern Lewandowski loses on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, that would be just as fatal as selling the best striker of recent years without finding an adequate replacement. FC Bayern would then have to seriously worry about their sporting ambitions. Salihamidzic’s contract in Munich only runs until 2023. It is doubtful whether he can extend it if he cannot solve the Lewandowski problem.