Why Man Utd could ditch Ronaldo for Lewandowski this summer
FT Desk
- 15 Mar 2022 18:35 GMT
- 8 min read
Manchester United will need to spend a fortune to get their squad up to scratch for next season’s Premier League campaign.
The club will need a new right-back, more options in midfield and potentially another winger too. However, above all else, it seems as though the club will need to finally fork out for a proper No.9 in the summer.
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Not only are the club likely to lose Edinson Cavani at the end of the season when his contract expires, but it now seems more and more likely that Cristiano Ronaldo will depart the club as well.
However, according to German newspaper Bild, the Old Trafford side may be able to turn their attention towards Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski. And in many ways he would be a much smarter option.
He’s exactly what Man Utd need
While Ronaldo seems to constantly be at odds with Ralf Rangnick’s tactics at Man Utd, there’s no doubt that Lewandowski would slot in perfectly well.
Unlike his Portuguese alternative, Lewandowski is a proper No.9 and would be able to lead the Old Trafford attacking line as such, while playing as a target man and poacher depending on what the tactics ask of him.
The Poland international has proved at Borussia Dortmund and now Bayern that he is a complete forward and, unlike Ronaldo, would be happy to simply dominate the opposing box and let Man Utd’s other forwards and attacking players to play off him.
With a focal point like Lewandowski up front, Man Utd would be able to realign their entire team through him and quickly offer the kind of structure that is needed to take the next step and challenge their rivals in the Premier League.
He could be available this summer
Another reason why Lewandowski could prove to be an enticing option for Man Utd is the fact that he may be available to sign at the end of the season.
As things currently stand, the Polish star has a contract with Bayern that is set to run until 2023. However, while Bayern have hinted at a contract extension in the coming months, neither they nor the player’s representatives have been forthcoming with negotiations.
According to Sky Sports in Germany, the Polish striker is still unsure of his future at the club due to a lack of discussion between his representatives and the Bundesliga giants.
As such, Lewandowski seems to be growing wary of the lack of movement in that regard. Should the striker turn down any offers from Bayern, he may opt to simply leave at the end of his current deal.
If so, that could force Bayern into selling the player this summer, rather than risk losing him for free 12 months later.
