What Jurgen Klopp’s said about £100m wantaway striker Robert Lewandowski and chances of him joining Liverpool

Liverpool fans have been put on red alert after news emerged that Robert Lewandowski is looking for a new challenge in his career.

The striker is keen to depart Bayern Munich, according to Sky Sports, having been disappointed he’s not been offered a new contract to remain at the German giants.

Kopites are certainly daring to dream about the potential prospect of Lewandowski moving to Anfield.

After all, it was Reds manager Jurgen Klopp who unearthed the Poland international when in charge of Borussia Dortmund.

At the Westfalenstadion, Klopp helped transfrom Lewandowski into one of the world’s best goalscorers.

Klopp’s never hidden his admiration for the prolific centre-forward either, adding to why Liverpool supporters are hoping he could be prised away to Merseyside.

At a glance: 5 key points

- Klopp signed Lewandowski when manager Borussia Dortmund from Lech Poznan for just €4.5 million in 2010.

- The pair won the back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012 and reached the Champions League final a year later.

- Klopp remained at Dortmund for only another season after Lewandowski departed for Bayern Munich in 2014.

- The German has remained a huge fan of the forward, who’s Bayern’s second-highest scorer of all time with 297 goals.

- Liverpool are yet to make a marquee signing this summer and Lewandowski would be a big statement as they bid for silverware.

What’s been said

In an interview with Sport BILD in March, Klopp called Lewandowski the best player he’s ever worked with during his coaching career - ahead of Liverpool stars such as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

He said: “Robert Lewandowski. It actually won’t be fair to say that about any other player except Lewy.

“What he has made out of his potential, how he pushed himself to become the player he is today, that’s extraordinary.

“If every player has a development similar to Lewandowski, when I first saw him at Lech Poznan, then the football world would be completely crazy.

“All players would win all their duels, the full-backs would complete all their crosses, the midfielders would be strong in one against ones, the wingers would tackle and play precise long balls.

“He has immersed himself in the game, he just knows in every situation what he has to do, where he has to go. Lewy is an absolute machine.”

Where would he fit in?

There would only be one place for Lewandowski at Liverpool - spearheading the attack.

Renowned as arguably the best striker of his generation, the prospect of the Reds boasting a formidable attacking triumvirate with Salah and Sadio Mane would be exhilarating.

There’d even be debate about if it was more potent than Paris Saint-Germain’s star-studded forward line of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Roberto Firmino has been the player who’s made the Reds tick as a false nine and helped Liverpool win the Champions League and Premier League.

However, there are some fans who argue he doesn’t score enough goals for a centre-forward and that his best days at Anfield might be reaching a conclusion.

Diogo Jota broke the deadlock scoring in Liverpool’s 3-0 opening-day win at Norwich last weekend and he’s shown plenty of potential since arriving from Wolves for £42 million last summer.

But with nine Bundesliga titles and a Champions League to his name, Lewandowski is in a completely different stratosphere to Jota, who’s still only 24 and improving.

How likely is it to happen?

In truth, it is extremely unlikely.

While a player of Lewandowski’s ilk is every fan’s dream signing, it wouldn’t make sense for two reasons.

Firstly, he turns 33 on Saturday, August 21, and is coming towards the end of his upward trajectory.

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group scarcely sanction big-money transfers for players who are currently in their peak - nevermind for those not far off their twilight years.

Thiago Alcantara’s arrival last summer for £25 million at the age of 29 is the only notable anomaly.

With Bayern reportedly wanting £100 million-plus for Lewandowski, it would be completely at odds with the Anfield club’s mantra.

In addition, the Reds’ low-key summer transfer window has been down to the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Although Manchester City and Chelsea have been splashing the cash on Jack Grealish and Romelu Lukaku for £100 million and £97.5 million respectively, Liverpool’s model of self-sustainability means they’re unable to.

Instead, the Reds have focused on tying down assets, handing new deals to Van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fabinho. More are expected to follow.

Ibrahima Konate’s £36 million arrival from RB Leipzig is Klopp’s only summer signing so far.

The boss needs to shift out some of his fringe players such as Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri before making additions.

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