How Man City could line up with Robert Lewandowski
Manchester City are looking at Robert Lewandowski as an alternative to Harry Kane and Erling Haaland this summer.
According to the Daily Mail, the Premier League champions saw a £100 million offer for Kane rejected by Tottenham in June.
City, not wanting to go too much higher, have started identifying other potential forwards to come in as they are light in that department following the departure of Sergio Aguero to Barcelona.
Lewandowski is arguably the best centre-forward in the world at the moment, although at 32 years old he would represent a more short-term option that Kane or Haaland.
He is showing no signs of age though as he was tremendous again in 2020/21, scoring 41 Bundesliga goals as he broke the record for the most goals scored in a single top flight season in Germany - a record previously held by Gerd Muller.
Crucially, Lewandowski previously stated a desire to experience a new culture away from Germany, telling Canal +:
“I remain open-minded. I feel very good at Bayern, the city is superb, it’s a great club.
“I am always curious to learn a new language, a new culture. But whether it will be in football or after my career, even I don’t know.”
Should Manchester City pull the trigger and sign Lewandowski, the Poland international will join an already star-studded line-up.
So, how will Pep Guardiola shape them up?
Manchester City XI with Lewandowski
Ederson will start in goal in front of a back four likely consisting of Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo.
Aymeric Laporte is also an option but the Spain international fell out of the team last season due to the impressive resurgence of Stones.
Cancelo can also play at right-back which would allow Oleksandr Zinchenko to come in on the opposite flank.
Fernandinho recently signed a new one-year extension to remain at Man City but he will be a rotation option, with Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan again the preferred midfield three.
It is in the front three positions that Man City hold a variety of options.
If Lewandowski signs that mean will Gabriel Jesus having reduced playing time.
On the flanks; Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva and Ferran Torres will all be battling for minutes.
Foden is the golden boy of the club, while Sterling might have earned his place back as a starter after his sparkling performance at Euro 2020 with England.
Add to that a potential Jack Grealish signing, too.