Chelsea target Lewandowski

AFP, BERLIN: Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said Robert Lewandowski is not for sale -- at any price -- amid reports that Chelsea are the latest top club chasing the Poland striker.

“Our door remains closed, the top quality we have at Bayern Munich will stay here,” Rummenigge told Wednesday’s edition of Munich-based newspaper TZ.

The UK media has suggested Lewandowski, under contract at Bayern until 2021, could move to Chelsea and the Polish striker’s agent revealed in May that his client wants to leave Munich after four successful years.

In the past, Lewandowski has frequently been linked to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

However Rummenigge says Lewandowski, the Bundesliga’s top-scorer last season with 29 goals and who has a market value of around 85 million euros ($99 million), is going nowhere -- whatever the amount offered.

“With Robert, we clearly want to send a signal to people within and outside the club: Bayern Munich are completely different to other clubs who get weak when certain sums are mentioned,” added Rummenigge.

“We are completely satisfied with him, and in his position there are only a few players who are comparable.

“So it’s not in our interest to hand him over - no matter if someone puts 100 or 150 million (euros) on the table.”

Bayern have just returned from a two-match tour of the USA, losing 2-0 to Juventus and 3-2 to Manchester City without Lewandowski and their international stars, who were rested after the World Cup.

Rummenigge has ruled out Bayern signing defender Benjamin Pavard, a World Cup winner with France, from VfB Stuttgart this summer.

“No, we have enough quality (at centre-back),” Rummenigge told magazine Sport Bild.

However, several top Bayern players are the subject of rumoured high-profile transfers.

Jerome Boateng is reportedly on the verge of joining Paris Saint-Germain, while Arturo Vidal has been linked to Inter Milan, Thiago Alcantara could return to Barcelona and defender Juan Bernat is up for sale.

At the other end of the financial scale, Bayern have signed Robert Kovac as assistant coach for a nominal fee of just one euro.

Robert, 44, the younger brother of Bayern’s new head coach Niko, 46, has joined his sibling in Munich.

The brothers worked together at Eintracht Frankfurt last season and Bayern paid a token amount to buy Robert out of his Frankfurt contract.

Chelsea target Lewandowski

AFP, BERLIN: Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said Robert Lewandowski is not for sale -- at any price -- amid reports that Chelsea are the latest top club chasing the Poland striker. Our door remains closed, the top quality we have at Bayern Munich will stay here, Rummenigge told Wednesdays edition of Munich-based newspaper TZ. The UK media has suggested Lewandowski, under contract at Bayern until 2021, could move to Chelsea and the Polish strikers agent revealed in May that his client wants to leave Munich after four successful years. In the past, Lewandowski has frequently been linked to Spanish giants Real Madrid. However Rummenigge says Lewandowski, the Bundesligas top-scorer last season with 29 goals and who has a market value of around 85 million euros ($99 million), is going nowhere -- whatever the amount offered. With Robert, we clearly want to send a signal to people within and outside the club: Bayern Munich are completely different to other clubs who get weak when certain sums are mentioned, added Rummenigge. We are completely satisfied with him, and in his position there are only a few players who are comparable. So its not in our interest to hand him over - no matter if someone puts 100 or 150 million (euros) on the table. Bayern have just returned from a two-match tour of the USA, losing 2-0 to Juventus and 3-2 to Manchester City without Lewandowski and their international stars, who were rested after the World Cup. Rummenigge has ruled out Bayern signing defender Benjamin Pavard, a World Cup winner with France, from VfB Stuttgart this summer. No, we have enough quality (at centre-back), Rummenigge told magazine Sport Bild. However, several top Bayern players are the subject of rumoured high-profile transfers. Jerome Boateng is reportedly on the verge of joining Paris Saint-Germain, while Arturo Vidal has been linked to Inter Milan, Thiago Alcantara could return to Barcelona and defender Juan Bernat is up for sale. At the other end of the financial scale, Bayern have signed Robert Kovac as assistant coach for a nominal fee of just one euro. Robert, 44, the younger brother of Bayerns new head coach Niko, 46, has joined his sibling in Munich. The brothers worked together at Eintracht Frankfurt last season and Bayern paid a token amount to buy Robert out of his Frankfurt contract.