Lewandowski faces Bayern stand-off with contract and transfer decisions at odds

Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has rarely made any wrong choices throughout his football career despite severe criticism having been levelled his way.

The former Lech Poznan star sealed a move to the Bundesliga at the perfect time earlier in his career, whilst his controversial free transfer to the Allianz Arena from Borussia Dortmund has seen him reach levels that would have been worthy of Ballon d'Or recognition - although Lionel Messi somewhat inexplicably beat him to the award last year.

The Polish forward is out of contract with Bayern next summer and, despite forging himself a place in club folklore with the Bavarian giants due to his stunning performances over the past eight years, has caught supporters off-guard recently.

The 10-time Bundesliga champion has already confirmed that he will not extend his current deal in Bavaria and now looks set to leave the club. Speaking with Sky Germany after Bayern's final game of the season, he said: "I can confirm that I spoke to Hasan [Salihamidzic, Bayern sporting director] and informed him that the decision was made - and that I am not extending my contract with FC Bayern.

"Both sides have to think about the future. It's best if we find the best solution for both sides. I said to [Salihamidzic] that if an offer comes, then we have to think about it -- also for the club. Both sides have to think about the future. That's all I can say.

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"I still have a year's contract [left at Bayern]. But I said that we have to find the best solution for both sides. We'll have to wait and see what happens."

The writing then already appears to be on the wall that Lewandowski will not be at Bayern Munich for much longer. But the question remains over where his next destination will be or when he will officially exit - a decision that must be made sooner rather than later. Barcelona have been linked with a move for the Pole this summer, whilst Premier League outfit Chelsea are marked as admirers should they elect to cash-in on the struggling Romelu Lukaku.

A deal does not seem so straight-forward, however. The Catalans' dire financial situation would likely deem them unable to fork out the considerable fee that Bayern would demand for Lewandowski, whilst it remains to be seen whether the Blues would be able to pursue him amid questions over their summer business with the club's takeover process continuing to roll on.

Meanwhile, a number of figures at Bayern have sent Lewandowski a strong message regarding his future commitments, with CEO Oliver Kahn among those to have stated that the Bundesliga giants will not be forced into a sale this summer. He said: "We know this alarmism from the past. It's not something that causes us a headache.

"We made an offer to his agent. He rejected this offer. That's his right. The fact is: He has a contract and he will fulfil it. We are very clear and consistent about that. That's the way things are here at Bayern. There is no player above the club."

A sale not materialising, though, might well leave Lewandowski and Bayern in a tricky position ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. Whilst the striker's legacy in Bavaria will never be tainted - 344 goals ensuring that - the simple fact is that the club will have a player turning out who has no intention of staying beyond next year.

Always the professional, Lewandowski appears unlikely to let that impact his performances. After all, his move to Bayern Munich from fierce rivals Borussia Dortmund was announced six months before he actually made the switch and still managed to find the net on eight occasions for die Schwarzgelben ahead of the move to the Allianz Arena.

Meanwhile, Bayern will need to begin preparations to replace Lewandowski ahead of his exit either this summer or next year.

As it stands, there does not appear to be a player in world football that can match his goalscoring exploits. Bayern have already missed out on Erling Haaland, who joined Manchester City, whilst the lofty demands of Kylian Mbappe mean they have not been involved in the race for the Frenchman.

It is certainly a tricky dilemma for both Lewandowski and Bayern over whether a summer exit might be the ideal scenario or indeed whether he sees out his deal. The striker will hope that he can once again make the best decision for both him and his current employers despite criticism already seemingly on its way.