Barcelona will launch a final attempt to sign Robert Lewandowski with a third transfer bid worth an initial £34.5million.
The Poland captain wants to leave Bayern Munich this summer, who have already rejected the Blaugrana's two previous bids. Camp Nou chiefs are now ready to make a last stand, according to Sport, with an offer of £34m plus add-ons. Barca are unwilling to go any higher given Lewandowski has entered the final 12 months of his Bayern contract and will be 34 when the new LaLiga season begins.
If Barcelona's third bid is yet again knocked back by the German champions, it would represent a double blow, as their sale of Frenkie de Jong to Manchester United has also been thrown into doubt. Despite the clubs agreeing a fee which Mirror Football understands is worth £56.1m , the 25-year-old is determined to remain in Catalunya.
De Jong's departure would give the cash-strapped Blaugrana additional funds to boost their chances of signing players such as Lewandowski, who has already verbally agreed a three-year contract with Barca. The striker has made no secret of his desire to leave Bavaria after eight campaigns, declaring to Polish outlet OnetSport while on international duty: "I just want to leave Bayern. Loyalty and respect are more important than the work.
"The best thing to do is find a solution together. They didn't want to listen to me until the end. Something died inside me - and it’s impossible to get over that. Even if you want to be professional, you can't make up for it.
"During so many years at the club I was always ready, available, despite injuries and the pain, I gave my best. I think the best thing to do is to find a good solution for both sides. And not to look for a one-sided decision. I'm not looking for a unilateral solution, that makes no sense, not after so much time, after such a successful era and with my will and support."
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Lewandowski is allegedly prepared to take drastic action in order to avoid returning to Munich for pre-season training in July. The ex- Borussia Dortmund talisman has even speculated that his transfer saga could deter players from joining the Bundesliga giants in the future.
"What kind of player will want to go to Bayern knowing that something like this could happen to them? Where are the loyalty and respect then?" Lewandowski added. "I have always been ready, I spent eight nice years here, I met wonderful people and I would like it to stay that way in my mind."
De Jong, on the other hand, hopes not to be moved on by his employers, despite new United manager Erik ten Hag 's desire to reunite with him at Old Trafford. Ten Hag coached the midfielder at Ajax, where in 2019 they made the Champions League semi-finals.
Regardless of whether De Jong's sale goes through, Barcelona face a financial reckoning on Thursday, June 30, as Spanish club's accounts for the 2021-22 season close. The Blaugrana's losses are estimated to be around the €160m (£138.5m) mark, denting boss Xavi Hernandez ' hopes of bringing the glory days back to Barca next term.
