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United on their own in race for summer target

Robert Lewandowski - Borrussia DortmundThere was no shortage of Man Utd transfer news and gossip this January and, despite the window shutting until the summer, February is proving no different.

More and more news stories appear to suggest United’s possible summer transfer target, Robert Lewandowski of Borrussia Dortmund, is NOT a target for apparent rival pursuers, Bayern Munich. Great news for United who may not be willing to enter a bidding war for a player entering the final year of his contract.

Dortmund general manager Aki Watzke has revealed his frustration at speculation linking Robert Lewandowski with a summer move to rivals Bayern Munich.

Lewandowski, 24, has 18 months to run on his current contract with the Bundesliga champions but his continued excellent form for Dortmund has attracted interest, reportedly from Manchester United and more recently from Bayern.

But as the speculation about a possible switch for the Polish striker grows stronger, with several German newspapers and television channels claiming a deal has already been struck between Lewandowski and Bayern, Watzke has reacted angrily to the situation.

“The whole issue is really getting on my nerves,” he said. “There are two scenarios: the first is that Bayern have no interest in Robert, in which case it’s all a load of rubbish.

“The other scenario is that they are interested, and then they have got to lift their cover at some stage and come to us with an enquiry.

“Bayern are usually correct and if they have any interest in a player, they will make contact.
“When they do that, they will get an answer. Maybe that would even surprise them, but as long as they carry on saying they have no interest or for as long as they don’t do anything, then we don’t care. Robert is playing here, playing very well too, and there is nothing more to say.”

Due to Lewandowski’s failure to sign a contract extension at Dortmund, Watzke is realistic about the chance of the club retaining the services of a player who has been at the forefront of their domestic and European success in the last three seasons.

“He has had the chance (to extend) and we have got to be realistic and if he has not taken that chance up to now, then the probability of him doing so is not getting any higher,”Watzke told Sky television.

“But that has nothing to do with whether he plays for us next season or not. That is entirely dependent on us, considering the contractual situation, which is why we are pretty relaxed about the whole thing.”

Bayern director of sport Matthias Sammer has maintained the club’s stance and played down the speculation.

“We’ve not said anything about it in the past and we are not going to say anything now, and not tomorrow either,” he said.

“There is absolutely nothing to say about the issue from our side. I have said what I wanted to say and what had to be said.”

How highly do you rate Lewandowski? Will he join United in the summer or is this a whole load of paper-talk?

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