Manchester United Look To Sign £400k-A-Week Striker As Nunez Alternative: A Poor Move?

According to recent reports from The Sun, Manchester United are keen on signing Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski in the ongoing transfer window as Erik Ten Hag looks set to add to his attacking options ahead of the 2022/23 season.

Despite a year remaining on his contract at the Allianz Arena, Lewandowski has his heart set on a move to FC Barcelona. However, due to their pathetic financial situation, the Catalan club is struggling to put forward a £20 million bid. In case the transfer collapses, Manchester United would look to capitalize on the situation by offering the Polish forward a contract worth £400,000 per week. The deal’s structure would be similar to the one that saw Cristiano Ronaldo return to Old Trafford last year.

“I just want to leave Bayern,” he told Sport Onet.

“Loyalty and respect are more important than the work. The best thing to do is find a solution together.

“They didn’t want to listen to me until the end. Something died inside me and it’s impossible to get over that. Even if you want to be professional, you can’t make up for it. No other offers were even considered by me other than that of Barcelona. I want to leave Bayern, that’s clear.

“During so many years at the club I was always ready, available, despite injuries and the pain, I gave my best. I think the best thing to do is to find a good solution for both sides and not to look for a one-sided decision.”

Chelsea are also interested in the Pole’s services as £100-million signing Romelu Lukaku is expected to head back to his former club Inter Milan this summer.

Robert Lewandowski signed for Bayern Munich from fellow Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2014, and it’d be an understatement to say that he has been his been in sensational form ever since. With 344 goals in eight seasons for the Bavarians, he is only second to Gerd Muller in the list of Bundesliga’s all-time goal-scorers. Having entrenched himself as one of the finest strikers in the world in recent years, it doesn’t seem as if the Poland international is going to stop scoring goals anytime soon.

The 33-year-old striker managed to put up some awe-inspiring numbers on the board the past season as he scored 50 goals and assisted seven more in 46 appearances across all competitions. Besides, he averaged 4.7 shots, 1.1 key passes, and 1.4 dribbles per 90 minutes in the German top-flight. Needless to say that if he manages to keep his goal-scoring trend going in the forthcoming seasons, he’d be a dream signing for any club.

A Poor Move?

It goes without saying that Erik Ten Hag needs to add a clinical number nine to his squad ahead of the 2022/23 season. Despite being 33, Lewandowski has a lot to offer, and it’s beyond doubt that he’ll massively improve United’s attack in several aspects, especially finishing – something they struggle with when Cristiano Ronaldo is not on the pitch. However, his humongous £400k-a-week wages can potentially harm the Red Devils’ wage structure. With Cristiano Ronaldo and David de Gea already on £510,000 and £375,000 per week, adding another giant wage bill to the payroll makes little sense – especially given his age. Manchester United should pursue a young talent instead of chasing another big name.

(Stats from WhoScored)