Bayern Munich remained tight-lipped Saturday amidst fresh reports Poland striker Robert Lewandowski will join the Bavarians from arch rivals Borussia Dortmund next season.
A fortnight ago Der Spiegel magazine reported the 24-year-old Lewandowski will join Bayern, while on Friday TV channel Sport1 and Munich newspaper Muenchener Merkur said he will join the Bavarian giants this summer.
Sources claim the transfer, reported to be between 25 to 30 million euros, is set to be announced after Bayern's German Cup quarter-final at home to holders Dortmund on February 27.
Lewandowski has scored 14 goals in 20 league games this season and his goal haul last season was a major factor in Borussia winning the Bundesliga title.
"I just smile these rumours away", said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge after Munich's 2-0 win at Wolfsburg on Friday extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to 18 points.
When asked if he could shed some light on the subject, he hinted at knowing more: "that would take all the suspense out of it", he said drily.
Coach Jupp Heynckes was also coy when asked about the growing rumours.
"Every week at Bayern, the latest show pony is paraded and linked to the club. It has always been the same since I have been here," said Heynckes.
"We don't allow such reports to drive us crazy.
"The players aren't impressed by it, on the contrary, they are often demotivated by it."
Bayern's director of sport Matthias Sammer was equally as evasive.
"We have said nothing about this the whole time and we'll do the same all weekend long," he said.
But with three strikers already in Bayern's squad with Croatia's Mario Mandzukic keeping Germany's Mario Gomez and Peru's Claudio Pizarro on Munich's bench, the rumour mill is clearly taking its toll.
"The club must commit themselves clearly and tell us what's going on," Gomez has said on the subject.
Source: AFP
