Will Barca sign Lewandowski? It could all depend on Muller's new Bayern deal

FT Desk
FT Desk
  • 7 Apr 2022 16:26 BST
  • 5 min read
Thomas Muller admits he could follow Thiago out of Bayern Munich
© ProShots

Bayern Munich are still in the race for a Bundesliga and Champions League double but storm clouds are already brewing on the horizon in the Bavarian capital.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side are undoubtedly one of the most talented sides in European football, but rumours persist over the future of star striker Robert Lewandowski.

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And there’s a growing belief within Germany that the Poland international may finally push for a move away from Bayern this summer.

As first revealed by FootballTransfers, Barcelona have made Lewandowski their no.1 transfer target this summer after opting out of a move for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.

As such, all eyes in the Bundesliga will be on Bayern and Lewandowski to see if the two parties can agree a new deal to stay together for the foreseeable future or consciously uncouple at the end of the season.

And according to a new report in Germany, the warning signs of which scenario may play out may become clear based on Thomas Muller’s contract discussions with the club.

Why does Muller’s contract matter?

According to German newspaper BILD, Bayern began contract negotiations with Muller’s representatives last Friday and we should be able to deduce where things will go with Lewandowski based on how this preliminary discussion goes.

The German publication claims that Muller is the first of three contract negotiations that will be “enormously important”, referring to the Germany international, Lewandowski and Manuel Neuer all needing new deals before their current contracts expire in 2023.

Not only are all three fantastic players, but the trio represent the backbone of Nagelsmann’s squad not in terms of their individual quality but also how the team is built up.

As such, what Bayern offer Muller in terms of his new wage and length of contract will likely be similar to what Neuer and Lewandowski are offered. And if it isn’t an enticing new deal which suggests the trio are still Bayern’s best paid and most important players, it could be an indication that the Bavarian giants are finally ready to let Lewandowski play the field and see what he can make elsewhere this summer.

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