Frenkie de Jong, Barcelona
Frenkie de Jong waves to the crowd during an FC Barcelona training session at Accor Stadium on May 24, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

KEY POINTS

  • Robert Lewandowski is contracted with Bayern until 2023
  • The Polish striker has informed the club that he wants to leave
  • Lewandowski netted 50 goals last term for Bayern

Bayern Munich have reportedly increased Robert Lewandowski’s transfer fee amid interest from FC Barcelona.

Lewandowski has just one year left on his current contract with Bayern Munich and the Polish striker has informed the Bundesliga champions that he wants to leave this summer.

Bayern Munich initially demanded over $50 million when Barcelona approached them with an official bid. However, with Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) joining the race to secure Lewandowski, Bayern Munich increased the price to $70 million, reported Spanish outlet Fichajes.

It is understood that Lewandowski is upset with Bayern Munich’s unreasonable demands to deny him a move to Barcelona.

However, the decision to stall the legendary striker’s transfer is neither director Hasan Salihamidzic’s nor chairman Oliver Kah’s. The figure behind the Lewandowski saga is the club’s former president Uli Hoeness as the latter continues to be a part of the advisory board at Bayern and still has a major influence within the club, according to the German outlet BILD.

Meanwhile, Lewandowski is back in Munich for pre-season medical tests with Bayern, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, who has also claimed there are no changes in the player's plans who still wants to join Barcelona.

"Barça are confident but negotiations with Bayern are still needed. Work in progress," Romano tweeted.

Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez is pushing the Catalans to secure a deal for Lewandowski, who is one of the top targets of the Spaniard ahead of the 2022-23 season.

It has also been reported that Barcelona have reached an agreement with Ousmane Dembele, who is set to accept lowered wages to continue at Barcelona. The La Liga side is also trying to land Leeds United’s Raphinha.

Robert Lewandowski scored twice for Bayern in a 3-2 win at Borussia Dortmund after finishing second to Lionel Messi in the Ballon d'Or voting
Robert Lewandowski scored twice for Bayern in a 3-2 win at Borussia Dortmund after finishing second to Lionel Messi in the Ballon d'Or voting AFP / Ina Fassbender

For the second consecutive term, Lewandowski netted 50 goals for Bayern Munich in the 2021-22 campaign. The 33-year-old forward has netted 344 goals and provided 72 assists in 375 appearances in all competitions for Bayern since moving from Borussia Dortmund to Munich in 2014.

Lewandowski has been an influential figure in Bayern's many trophies over the years, including eight straight league titles and the Champions League, which they won in the 2019-20 season by beating PSG 1-0 in the final.

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