5 possible destinations for Robert Lewandowski next season

Robert Lewandowski is currently the leading goal scorer in BundesligaTo say that Robert Lewandowski has started 2016 with a bang would be an understatement. The Polish striker is Bayern Munich’s leading goal scorer this season with 22 goals in the Bundesliga and 32 goals in all competitions. Almost 30% of those goals have come in the last month after German football resumed following a winter break.When players are in such fine form, other top clubs are always bound to take notice. And transfer rumours are never far behind when the future of world-class players is a topic for discussion. Having been linked to clubs across Europe in the past few months, we look at five possible options for the 27-year-old. Current contract: Expires June 2019Current market value: £55.3m

#1 Paris Saint-Germain

Zlatan Ibrahimovic could leave PSG this summer

After four years of incredible success, Paris Saint-Germain could soon bid their greatest striker ever a fond farewell. 34-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a free agent this summer and, judging by his recent comments, he could move on to another club.

PSG would be one of few clubs who could afford to sign Lewandowski without having to check their bank balance. While they would love to extend Ibrahimovic’s current deal, the Swedish striker has never played more than four seasons with one club.

Although Edinson Cavani is waiting in the wings to lead the attack after Ibrahimovic’s potential departure, Laurent Blanc has shown that he can switch to a 4-4-2 if he wants to. Cavani has played on the left when Ibrahimovic leads the line in a 4-3-3 with Angel Di Maria thriving on the right.

Signing Lewandowski would be a statement of intent for PSG who are looking to progress past the quarter-finals stage in Europe. With respect to domestic trophies, they don’t really need him to battle it out at the top of Ligue 1.

Verdict: Highly possible

#2 Real Madrid

Real Madrid would be happy to see one of their biggest tormentors in the All Whites

Alarm bells rang throughout Europe when Lewandowski’s agent was spotted at the Bernabeu in December. Is Florentino Perez really planning to make Bayern’s star striker the next Galactico? The impending transfer ban notwithstanding, Real Madrid could go all out to secure big signings before they are banned from registering players across two transfer windows.

They do have Karim Benzema to lead the line and he is one of Perez’s pet projects. But the general consensus is that, although he is considered secondary to Cristiano Ronaldo, he seems to have plateaued in spite of averaging 22 goals in the last three seasons. However, Benzema has significantly upped his goal scoring rate this season as Ronaldo initially struggled to score at the same rate he had in seasons past.

But with Ronaldo’s future also up in the air, Perez would have no qualms about bringing in another striker to improve the squad. In fact, he had sounded out Lewandowski even before his move to Munich.

There is no question that Lewandowski would thrive at the Bernabeu. The current formation Zinedine Zidane employs would not starve him of service at all with the likes of Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez finding him with ease thanks to his movement and ability in the box.

Verdict: Possible big-money move on the cards

#3 Manchester City

Will Lewandowski follow Pep Guardiola to Manchester City?

This seems like one of the more obvious choices. With Pep Guardiola taking over at the Premier League club this summer, he would like to bring one or two of the players he has coached to the Etihad.

City already have Sergio Aguero leading the line, but the Argentine striker’s fitness has been a cause for concern for quite some time now. On the other hand, Lewandowski has consistently averaged close to 50 games a season ever since moving to Germany. Lewandowski has also scored plenty more goals in the last five seasons (151 to Aguero’s 124).

Even if Guardiola sticks with Aguero, there is simply no other world-class striker in their ranks. Wilfried Bony has failed to reach the same heights he did at Swansea while 19-year-old Kelechi Iheanacho has shown promise but is still a bit raw.

The Premier League’s riches could tempt Lewandowski to make the move. City might just be tempted to spend if Guardiola gives the go-ahead. The last thing they want to see is his stock rise after Euro 2016. But Guardiola may not be able to convince him to sign considering Aguero’s immense experience in England and his stranglehold on the starting spot.

Verdict: Highly improbable with Aguero still in the frame

#4 Arsenal

Signing Lewandowski would make Arsenal title favourites

Arsenal fans have been clamouring for a world-class striker ever since the departure of Robin van Persie to Manchester United. Lukas Podolski came and went making little to no impact while Olivier Giroud’s progress has been slow. While not a traditional no.9, Giroud’s contributions to the team haven’t gone unnoticed and does get some praise.

However, Lewandowski’s arrival would immediately make the Gunners title favourites. Theo Walcott cannot lead the line while Alexis Sanchez is more effective cutting in from the flank. Danny Welbeck is also in the running for a spot up front but he has shown the versatility to play across the front three where he can either use his pace or physicality, sometimes even both.

Wenger has seen the benefits of having world-class players in the squad. Mesut Ozil and Alexis have helped the north London side win and retain the FA Cup in successive years while the arrival of Petr Cech has seen them turn into title contenders this season.

If he plays his cards right and signs a striker (and also replaces a host of older central midfielders), they could even avoid Round of 16 exits in the Champions League.

Verdict: Necessary signing but will the frugal Wenger spend?

#5 Stay at Bayern Munich

Carlo Ancelotti wants Lewandowski to stay at Bayern Munich

Lewandowski’s 2014 summer arrival at the Allianz Arena signalled the end of any semblance of competition in the German Bundesliga. Borussia Dortmund lost their two best talents in Mario Gotze and Lewandowski, the latter moving on a free transfer to rub salt in the wounds of Die Schwarzgelben. While his jersey changed, his form did not and, together with Thomas Muller, lay waste to defences across the league.

Various media reports have now suggested that Lewandowski could move on after the departure of Pep Guardiola. But nothing is clear as yet as he himself admitted he could extend his stay.

“I know that there is interest from abroad,” Lewandowski had said. “But I can very well imagine putting pen to paper on a new deal here because of the super team and the good co-operation, because the club is known to honour good performances.”

There is hope for Bayern fans though. Reports also suggested Carlo Ancelotti made it clear that he would take over from Guardiola only if Lewandowski was retained as he saw him as the clear choice to lead the line alongside the likes of Douglas Costa and Thomas Muller.

Bayern would be the ideal place for the striker with an established squad and a new coach with fresh ideas and Champions League winning pedigree. Ancelotti’s love for attacking football with a no.9 leading the line would also suit Lewandowski the most.

Verdict: Lewandowski’s best course of action would be to stay