Bayern Munich have reacted strongly to rumours that Chelsea are making eyes at Robert Lewandowski, reports Talksport.
Stories emerged earlier in the week suggesting Antonio Conte was ready to make an approach to the Polish striker after dropping his interest in Everton marksman Romelu Lukaku. But the interest from the Chelsea manager has so alarmed the German champions that they have taken the unusual step of releasing a statement warning off the Blues from any pursuit of a player they claim is happy with life in Munich.
"FCB are not wasting any thoughts about a transfer by Lewandowski," ran the statement. "There are no talks with other clubs and there won't be any."
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And then, to ensure the message is heard loud and clear at Stamford Bridge, Bayern warned: "If other clubs negotiate with players, who have long term contracts, they risk punishment from Fifa. His advisor too has assured us that no transfer talks are being conducted."
Chelsea are sweating, says The Sun, and it's nothing to do with the weather. Rather it's the future of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois that is making the Premier League champs perspire, with the paper claiming that the Belgian is involved in a "summer stand-off over a new contract".
Talks about a new deal have broken down over a disagreement about money and the Sun says that and Courtois will keep Chelsea waiting "until the last minute before committing his future to the champions". Apparently he wants to be on the same £200,000-a-week wages as compatriot Eden Hazard, but that represents a significant hike on his current £80,000-a-week salary and for the moment Chelsea are refusing to play ball.
But the Sun says that Courtois, who has been linked with Real Madrid recently, knows he is "one of the most in-demand keepers in the world" and is confident he will get his way.
Chelsea turn to Lewandowski as Lukaku deal hits the buffers
21 June
Have Chelsea accepted they've missed the boat in signing Romelu Lukaku? According to the Daily Express, the Blues are struggling to agree terms with the Belgian striker and that's opened the door for Manchester United who have "been given fresh hope" in their pursuit of the Everton hitman.
The Red Devils are desperate for a top-class striker to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jose Mourinho believes he can persuade the Toffees forward to follow in the footsteps of Wayne Rooney and make the short move from Goodison Park to Old Trafford.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte had been circling Lukaku earlier in the summer but there may be a reason for his hesitancy to make a move - and that reason is Bayern Munich marksman Robert Lewandowski.
The Sun says that Conte is "interested" in signing the Polish international and he's been given a boost with the news that Lewandowski's agent says his client is "disappointment" with the way things went at Bayern last season.
"Robert told me that he got no support and that the coach gave no call to help him in the last game to win the top-scorer title," Maik Barthel told German magazine Kicker. "He was disappointed as I have never seen him before. He really hoped that the team would support him proactively."
The Sun says that consequently the Blues "will now consider battling Real Madrid for his signature" as Conte searches for the striker to replace Diego Costa.
As for Lukaku, the Sun says another reason that Chelsea have gone cold on the forward is because they're "reluctant to meet Everton's £100m evaluation". That's too much in their opinion, and Lewandowski is expected to cost half that figure. What's more, with 43 goals for Bayern last season, the prolific Pole is a proven goalscorer and Conte believes he has the physicality to endure the rough and tumble of the Premier League.
