Fabrizio Romano has detailed how Chelsea aimed to snatch Robert Lewandowski from under Barcelona’s noses this summer.
The 34-year-old made it clear to Bayern Munich that he didn’t wish to continue with the German giants beyond this summer a year before his deal in Bavaria expired.
Chelsea then registered their interest in the goal-laden Pole but it was clear the striker had his heart set on a move to Barca.
The Catalan club’s president Joan Laporta has since confirmed that Lewandowski rejected the Blues advances in favour of a £42.5m switch to Spain and Romano has shed further light on the situation confirming that it wasn’t the first time the club tried to bring in the 131-capped Poland international.
Writing in his daily briefing for Caught Offside he said:
‘Chelsea tried to hijack Robert Lewandowski’s move to Barcelona. He was also wanted by Thomas Tuchel before signing Romelu Lukaku last summer, but Bayern didn’t want to sell. This summer, the player only wanted Barca.’
Chelsea of course made it a club-record signing in the form of Romelu Lukaku for £97.5m and it is fair to say that it certainly didn’t work out as he netted just eight league goals last season and has since been loaned back to Inter Milan.
The Stamford Bridge club could well be in a very different position if only Lewandowski wanted to force a transfer last summer after 344 goals and 72 assists in 374 appearances at Bayern.
Hailed as the ‘complete’ player in the number nine position by German icon Lothar Matthaus he certainly would have helped Chelsea’s problems with the club turning to Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng on deadline day having failed to score from open play in three of their first seven games this season.
