Why Dortmund should sell Lewandowski now

One may argue that it is two key players departing this summer to the same club rather than one (which has been the norm), but will it affect them as severely as expected? They will definitely miss Lewandowski’s goals, but can’t the rest of the squad compensate for it? What if Aubameyang has a highly productive season, while Lewandowski is stuck on the bench?

Considering their ability to pluck players from the unknown and convert them to big-name stars, there is no doubt that Dortmund will move on from Lewandowski (if they sell now) by signing an additional striker to partner Aubameyang. Dortmund transformed Shinji Kagawa from a completely unknown player into Manchester United’s top target last year. When he was sold, they had the players to step into his shoes.

The performances of Gundogan, Bender and Kara resulted in Kagawa not being missed. A similar trend was seen when they replaced Sahin (ironically, they have him on their books again!). There is still a good one-and-a-half month of the transfer window left, which is ample time to scout and sign a replacement for the outgoing Pole.

One has to wonder why Lewandowski wants to move. He can walk into Dortmund’s starting XI right now, something which he cannot expect every week at Bayern. Besides, Dortmund are renowned for the atmosphere they generate in the stadium – their fans’ display of passion and intensity are second to none. The Signal Iduna Park has always been a difficult venue to play for visitors, especially due to the noisy and partisan crowd. Why would Lewandowski want to miss their adoration and support in exchange for a place on Bayern’s bench? I cannot understand.

The Dortmund faithful will definitely make life difficult for Lewandowski if and when he returns to Signal Iduna Park

He would also have to brace himself for a frosty reception as an away player at Dortmund’s ground. Clearly, something other than footballing reasons seems to be at play. Dortmund are the best bet to challenge Bayern for the title, and carrying Dortmund to the title should be a challenge to enjoy for Robert rather than accepting a bit part role elsewhere. Could money be the sole reason?

Inspite of their on-field excellence, Dortmund cannot match Bayern’s wage structure, which could be the real reason why the Pole is so desperate to leave.

Lewandowski holds all the cards. He has to decide between whether he is happy coming off Bayern’s bench once in a while, or bettering last season’s exploits by staying with Dortmund. In case he chooses the latter and then moves for free next year, it will be an even more bitter pill for Dortmund to swallow.

The best thing for BVB to do now would be to implement the classic mantra of ‘no player is bigger than the club’. If a player wants to leave, there is no point in forcing him to stay. Dortmund must stamp their authority and be brave enough to sell him this summer and use the money to sign another striker. It would be the best course of action for the club.

Pep will have a really hard time choosing his starting XI from a squad that has an embarrassment of riches in every position and simultaneously keeping everybody content with their playing time. In case of a rift between the manager and some key players, Dortmund can take advantage under the excellent stewardship of Klopp. Playing as a team with togetherness and a will to work for each other can tilt the balance in Dortmund’s favour compared to Bayern’s well-oiled machine on the pitch with suspect behind-the-scenes relations.

Summary

Dortmund must sell Lewandowski to Bayern now. Without doubt, Bayern will strengthen; but it may create more problems than solutions (too many cooks spoiling the broth, you know). Dortmund can move on from an uncommitted player and use the cash generated by his sale to find a young and hungry replacement who can make sure the Pole will not be missed. A new hero can be adopted by the departure of someone who clearly is not in the right frame of mind to don their famous yellow.

You never know what surprises the crazy auction that is the transfer market can have in store, but what if Lewandowski dramatically decides on a U-turn and pledges his future to Dortmund? Food for thought.

https://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/07/12/borussia-dortmunds-lewandowski-stand-right-or-wrong/