Lewandowski’s Bayern contract doubts take focus off Champions League

Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski applauds after the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen in Munich on on March 5, 2022. (Photo by Christof STACHE / AFP) /

Bayern Munich might do better to focus on their midweek last-16 Champions League clash, but with Robert Lewandowski agitating for a new contract, transfer speculation around the Poland striker’s future is clouding the issue.

Bayern host Red Bull Salzburg in a Champions League last 16, return-leg tie on Tuesday following a 1-1 draw in Austria.

Unusually for him, Lewandowski has not scored in his last three games and off the field, his future beyond this season appears a little unclear.

Over the weekend, there were reports Manchester United lead a list of Premier League clubs to have contacted Lewandowski’s agent Pini Zahavi.

Lewandowski, 33, like fellow Bayern veterans Manuel Neuer, 35, and Thomas Mueller, 32, is out of contract in June 2023.

Yet while Neuer and Mueller have reportedly been told in person that the club want to extend, Lewandowski has not.

Last month, Bayern director Hasan Salihamidzic publically stated that the club do not want to sell him. “It’s out of the question. Robert is a very important part of the team”.

Yet the news surprised Lewandowski.

“I’m hearing that for the first time,” he said.

The Poland international turns 34 in August, but due to his punishing fitness regime, Lewandowski is at the top of his game.

He has hit 39 goals in 34 games in all competitions this season.

In his weekly Bild column, German legend Lothar Matthaeus was shocked Bayern have not already nailed down the future of their top-scorer, who was last December named FIFA’s best male player for the second year