Ruben Amorim is reportedly interested in signing Robert Lewandowski when his Barcelona contract expires and believes he would have a ‘positive impact’ at Manchester United.
Lewandowski has been one of the most prolific strikers in world football over the past decade and continues to bang the goals in at the age of 37.
The Poland legend scored 344 goals in 375 appearances for Bayern Munich, winning eight successive Bundesliga titles at the Allianz Arena.
Lewandowski has carried that form over to Barcelona, scoring over 100 goals for the La Liga giants in his first three seasons at the Nou Camp.
Despite his impressive numbers, Barcelona are planning for life after Lewandowski, who has entered the final year of his contract and is not expected to be offered a new deal.
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As a result Lewandowski will likely leave Barca on a free transfer next summer and his available could spark a scramble to secure his signature.
According to the Daily Mirror, Manchester United manager Amorim is a ‘long-term admirer’ of Lewandowski and has told his bosses at Old Trafford that the veteran could not only thrive at the club but also be a positive influence on his younger teammates.
United have looked far more threatening in front of goal this season but that is largely down to forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha rather than £74m striker signing Benjamin Sesko.
Sesko was signed from RB Leipzig to replace Rasmus Hojlund, who was moved on to Napoli, but the Slovenia international has only scored two goals this term.
Signing Lewandowski on a free could be a tantalising proposition for a number of clubs but United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already ruled out a move.
The Mirror says Ratcliffe is wary of ‘repeating mistakes of the past’ when it comes to signing ageing players.
Similar deals for Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane, Edinson Cavani and Bastian Schweinsteiger did not work out. Even the £70m deal for Casemiro looks questionable despite his recent upturn in form.
Lewandowski’s hefty salary – he is believed to be on more than £400,000-a-week – would also prove problematic for United, who are trying to reduce costs.
Following the summer exits of Hojlund, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony, it was reported last week that Manchester United were open to selling Joshua Zirkzee in January.
Lewandowski played with Zirzkee at Bayern Munich and said last year that Erik ten Hag’s £36.5m signing would come good at Old Trafford.
‘He plays amazing with his back to goal, he can hold the ball, he can play with one or two touches and bring the wingers behind his back,’ Lewandowski said on Rio Ferdinand Presents.
‘He has also good finishing in the box. He’s young but he’s big and I think he can keep the ball, hold the ball very, very strong.
‘Of course, he needs a little bit of time. It’s normal if you join this kind of club, a big club, with huge expectations.
‘He’s scored already a lot of goals in Serie A so, for him, that was like the first season where he was involved as a typical striker.
‘Now the time for Manchester United is not so brilliant. It’s a big team and, of course, I wonder that they are coming back on the right track.
‘But he [Zirkzee] is a striker that can really help team-mates and the team if you know how to use him.
‘He can score the goals but also he is not a typical goalscoring striker… he’s also a player who can help the team-mates, to create the space for them.’
Lewandowski missed Sunday’s El Clasico through injury and would have been disappointed to see his Barcelona teammates suffer a 2-1 defeat at the Bernabeu which extended Real Madrid’s lead at the top of La Liga to five points.
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