Champions League finalists Chelsea and Manchester City have emerged as contenders to sign Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski this summer, sources told ESPN, with the striker undecided on his future.
Lewandowski, 32, has a contract at Bayern until 2023 and sources told ESPN that interested clubs would need to offer €60 million to start negotiations over a possible move.
One of the all-time Bundesliga greats, Lewandowski has 36 league goals in 31 matches this season and is closing in on Gerd Muller’s record of 40 in a season, set in the 1971-72 campaign. The Poland international is also on 272 Bundesliga goals across his career in Germany, for Borussia Dortmund and Bayern, and would have Muller’s record of 365 on his radar if he did stay.
Lewandowski has hinted previously that he would retire from football after his Bayern Munich career was over, but interest from the Premier League could tempt him into a final challenge elsewhere.
Chelsea and City are both in the market for a striker this summer, sources told ESPN, with Thomas Tuchel eager to improve his attacking options following a difficult debut season for Timo Werner. Pep Guardiola is looking to replace the outgoing Sergio Aguero at Manchester City, at times playing without a recognised No. 9 in attack this season as his side look set to clinch the league title.
Guardiola managed Lewandowski during his three-year tenure at Bayern from 2013 to ’16, while former BVB coach Tuchel knows all about the striker, who has won the Bundesliga six times at Bayern and twice at Dortmund.
Outgoing City striker Aguero is also on Chelsea’s radar, while Guardiola also is interested in Tottenham’s Harry Kane, sources added, in a clear sign the Champions League finalists are looking to further bolster their attacking options this summer.
There is also interest from Paris Saint-Germain in Lewandowski, sources said, but any move would depend on Kylian Mbappe’s future, with the France international still in contract negotiations with the Ligue 1 side. — Stephan Uersfeld