After completing deals for three players, Bayern Munich will now look to solve the future of Robert Lewandowski one way or the other. Die Roten will need to get another forward by the end of the window if Lewandowski gets a move to Barcelona.
It has been previously suggested in German media that Sadio Mane could eventually be the replacement of Lewandowski. The Senegalese forward has been operating as a number nine for Liverpool in the second half of last season. He did a fine job in this role as he was in double digits for goals for the Merseyside club since the start of the year.
Mane can play anywhere across the front three. He provides tactical flexibility to Julian Nagelsmann. The German coach has also been singing praises about the positional versatility of Mane. However, it does look like Mane may not play as a number nine every week for Die Roten if Lewandowski leaves this summer.
According to Kicker, Bayern will be looking to sign a proper number nine to replace Lewandowski. The idea of Mane as a number nine for the entire campaign is not favoured by everyone at the club. Mane will most likely be used in the wide areas on a consistent basis.
Getting a proper number nine to replace Lewandowski is a sensible move but executing this idea in the current market is very difficult. There are very few top-class strikers available at a decent fee in the current market. Bayern needs a forward that can hit the ground running and contribute heavily with goals.
VfB Stuttgart’s Sasa Kalajdzic was considered one of the potential arrivals by the Bavarian club to offset the departure of Lewandowski. The Austrian striker’s agent had held talks with Die Roten at the end of the season, but the transfer is currently in doubt after Bayern cooled interest in the player.
Hasan Salihamidzic has a big challenge on his hands to find a positive conclusion to the transfer saga of Lewandowski. He has started the summer strongly, but this summer could be defined by Bayern’s approach to solving the situation around their number nine.
Meanwhile, FC Barcelona is likely to come back with a third bid after their first two bids for Lewandowski were below the demands of Die Roten. The latest suggestion from Germany is that Rekordmeister is looking for €60 million to sanction Lewandowski’s departure. The next couple of weeks will be decisive for Bayern’s number nine as talks for transfer pick up the pace.