Robert Lewandowski was rewarded by FIFA on Monday for a successful 2021. The Polish striker was voted best player in the world during the annual FIFA BEST awards. The Bayern Munich striker managed to win this award for the second year in a row, further establishing the claim of being the best number nine in the world.
The next few months are set to witness a lot of speculation surrounding the future of Lewandowski. The Poland international has 18 months left on his contract, so it remains to be seen who will make the next move for a renewal.
According to SportBild, Bayern has made up their mind about two possible outcomes of the contract situation of Lewandowski. The Polish striker will either sign a contract renewal and extend his stay in Bavaria, or else he will be sold in the next summer transfer window. The upcoming summer window will be the last opportunity for Bayern to get a fee for Lewandowski if he decides against signing a new deal.
Previously, it has been reported in Germany that Die Roten will open talks with Lewandowski in 2022. The two parties should be expected to open the dialogue soon and make a decision one way or the other before the end of the season.
In a normal scenario, the decision for Rekordmeister is straightforward. Lewandowski is the best striker in the world, so just make sure that he signs a new deal. However, the situation is not as simple as it sounds for Die Roten.
Lewandowski will be 34 next season, so committing a long-term deal will be a risky strategy. Moreover, the upcoming summer transfer window will see Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker has been a prolific goalscorer for Borussia Dortmund. Since Haaland is a very young and promising striker, it is natural to see Die Roten be in the mix for him.
Robert Lewandowski will not be short of options if he becomes available in the transfer market. He is ageing like a fine wine, so there will be big clubs interested in signing him. It is a tricky scenario for Die Roten, but things will become clear sooner rather than later.
Along with Lewandowski, Bayern also has to make a decision about the future of Niklas Sule and Corentin Tolisso. Both players have entered the final six months of their respective contracts. The German club is in talks with Sule, while Tolisso is also open to staying at the club.