Chelsea plot £50m raid for Lewandowski

Toby Bowles
Lewandowski Chelsea Bayern

Chelsea are planning an audacious swoop for Robert Lewandowski after failing to sign Erling Haaland, according to reports.

Haaland, 20, had been Thomas Tuchel’s No.1 priority this summer after Timo Werner failed to hit the ground running in his debut season at Stamford Bridge.

The £48m recruit struggled to convert the plethora of chances presented to him, managing only six goals in 35 Premier League appearances.


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Haaland, meanwhile, has netted 57 times since moving to Germany in January 2020, but after having a players-plus-cash offer rejected by Borussia Dortmund for him, Chelsea have decided to turn their attention elsewhere.

According to The Sun, their primary target is now Lewandowski, who broke the record for the number of goals scored in a single Bundesliga campaign last season (41).

The Pole’s contract expires in 2023, meaning his value will begin to plummet if Bayern don’t sell him this summer.

The club, though, are aware of the message it would send out if they sold their star player, and so are trying to convince him to sign an extension.

Chelsea, therefore, would have to table a sizeable bid to force Bayern’s hand, with the report claiming they’re prepared to offer £50m.

According to Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann, the Blues are not the only club to have registered their interest. “I think it’s normal for someone who scores so many goals that almost every club puts out a feeler,” he said (via the Daily Star).

“I think on one hand Robert knows what he has in Munich, what he has in this team.

“I’ve already spoken to him and texted him. I’m not very fond of the first official act with a player being to immediately discuss his contractual situation.”

Paul Merson, meanwhile, feels Lewandowski is an inferior footballer to Harry Kane, who has also been linked with an exit this summer.

He said back in March: “Robert Lewandowski won the award for the best player in the world last year. But he’s not as good as Harry Kane.

“He’s only ripped it up in Germany. Kane is doing it in the Premier League.

“And I can’t remember Lewandowski touching the ball at the last World Cup. But Kane won the Golden Boot.”