FC Bayern: Kahn about Lewandowski – “Will fulfill the contract – that’s that!”

Disagreements at Gnabry

Many top strikers have left FC Bayern over the past two decades: Giovane Elber, Roy Makaay, Luca Toni, Miroslav Klose, Mario Gómez and Mario Mandzukic have always been adequately replaced. When these players said goodbye to Munich, the replacement was already sealed – with Robert Lewandowski, those responsible for the record champions are now faced with an unusual challenge. Contract and transfer poker without having a successor in hand.

“He has a contract with us until June 30, 2023. And he will play with us until then,” insists FCB President Herbert Hainer in a “double pass” on the fulfillment of the working paper. After the 2: 2 in Wolfsburg Lewandowski said at the Polish broadcaster “Viaplay Sport Polska” (quoted via Fabrizio Romano): “It’s quite possible that this was my last game for Bayern. I can’t say 100 percent, but it could be. We want to find the best solution for me and for the club.” According to reports, FC Barcelona are courting the world footballer and are offering a three-year contract.

A short time later, CEO Oliver Kahn chose even clearer words on Bavarian television as part of the championship celebrations on Munich’s Marienplatz: “He will fulfill this contract – that’s that!” Kahn said, “The whole fuss, all this alarmism, we know that from the past . (…) That doesn’t give us a headache”.

Hainer categorically did not want to rule out a farewell to the Pole this summer. “It may be that both sides agree on it,” said Uli Hoeneß’s successor, but both sides would have to “agree with it”. The Bayern boss expressly referred to the club’s plans. The Munich team would have to implement a successor solution: “There is no replacement for such a world-class player as Robert Lewandowski”. Kahn meanwhile said: “There is no player who is bigger than the club.”

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	S. Kalajdzic
	centre-forward
VfB Stuttgart 25% FC Bayern Bundesliga Bundesliga

The “Bild” newspaper lists Sasa Kalajdzic (24, VfB), Patrik Schick (26, Bayer 04), André Silva (26, Leipzig), Sébastien Haller (27, Ajax) and Darwin as candidates for Lewandowski’s successor Núñez (22, Benfica) traded – Sadio Mané (30, Liverpool) is also in focus.

Lewandowski’s advisor Pini Zahavi was recently made an offer to extend the contract beyond 2023, which he “rejected”. “That’s his right, too,” said Kahn. He indirectly confirmed that this was an offer for a one-year extension. “We are very clear and consistent there,” said Kahn, referring to Thomas Müller (32), who had just extended by a year, and also captain Manuel Neuer. The 36-year-old national goalkeeper is only supposed to extend the contract by one year until 2024.

FC Bayern’s Hainer on Gnabry: “Are there still a few differences of opinion”

At the end of the season, Lewandowski announced his desire to change this summer – he would not extend his contract again in Munich. The record champion sits contractually, however, the longer lever. Hainer “definitely doesn’t see a broken relationship”. Hainer also referred to FC Bayern’s high losses in the corona pandemic, which he put at “150 to 200 million euros in income”. “Nevertheless, we will continue to expand the squad and strengthen it so that we can also play top internationally,” assured the club president.

In order to be able to get involved further up internationally, an extension with Serge Gnabry (26) beyond 2023 is also being worked on. “There are still a few differences of opinion with Serge, but hopefully we can clear them up,” said Hainer. Gnabry is about money because he wants to get to a similar salary level as Leroy Sané (26) or Kingsley Coman (25), with whom he competes in the wing positions. According to reports, this would require doubling the current salary to around EUR 16 million. In contrast to the position of the center forward, Bayern are much better positioned on the flanks.

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