According to European media, after Dortmund striker Haaland said he was only interested in a two-year contract, Barcelona looked set to abandon plans to sign the player. So it also means the club will turn their attention to their next transfer target, Bayern Munich striker Lewandowski. The Polish international's contract expires in 2023, and reports from Germany have long hinted that he wants to show his talent in another league. As a result, a move to Barca seems more likely. If Bayern are forced to let go of their star striker, who can they bring as a viable replacement this summer?
Hick Leverkusen
If Bayern really want to sign a qualified replacement for Lewandowski, then they should only consider Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrick Hick. The Czech republic international scored 20 goals and assisted three times in 20 games for the Bundesliga side before the injury in late February, very similar to the Polish striker in terms of physical fitness, technique and style of play.
Belotti Turin
Given the relatively small number of players to operate this summer, Bayern have struggled to find a better price-performance option than Torino's thigh Belotti. The striker has been a high-profile figure in Serie A, scoring 102 goals and assisting 27 times in 262 league games, and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, he could undoubtedly be the most economical option.
Jesus - Manchester City
If Haaland really refuses to transfer to Barcelona or Real Madrid and joins Manchester City, it will bring shock waves to European football, and Bayern may be able to profit from it. The bavarian giants are most notable about the future of young striker Jesus. While the 24-year-old striker still enjoys high ratings in the Premier League, he is unlikely to accept City's positioning as Haaland's replacement, his contract expiring in 2023 and City likely to be willing to use him this summer to earn a transfer fee rather than losing him for free after 12 months. That's what Bayern should focus on.
Werner-Chelsea
If Bayern want to find a striker who can match Levine's goal efficiency, they will consider Chelsea striker Werner this summer. Despite the Germany international's poor performance at Stamford Bridge, he did score 95 goals and 40 assists for Leipzig in 159 games, and he is undoubtedly a recognized genius in the Bundesliga. Whether Tuchel will be happy about the loss of his compatriots is certainly yet to be discussed, but if Bayern can reach a deal, Werner could be a wise replacement for Lewandowski.
Lacazette Arsenal
While Arsenal striker Lacazette will clearly not be Bayern's main transfer target to replace Lewandowski, he could be one of the wiser options for the Bavarian giants. Not only will the French striker join for free when his contract with Arsenal expires this summer, but he's perfectly capable of adapting to Lewandowski's role as the No. 9 and pivot player. Is Lacazette a viable long-term option for Bayern? Definitely not. But he could be a clever stopgap measure for the German giants.