Real Madrid have held talks with striker Robert Lewandowski, his agent has confirmed, while Bayern Munich said they will pay whatever it takes to keep him.
"Real Madrid approached us a few weeks ago, we have listened to everything and informed Bayern that we have held talks," Lewandowski's agent Cezary Kucharski told German magazine Der Spiegel.
According to reports in the German media, Madrid are prepared to pay the Poland striker €25 million (Dh102m) per season.
Lewandowski finished the season as the Bundesliga’s top scorer, when he became the first foreigner to score 30 league goals plus nine in the Uefa Champions League, a tally of 42 in all competitions.
It was the first time a player has scored 30 goals in a single Bundesliga season in nearly 40 years.
Related:
• Gallery: Real Madrid celebrate Uefa Champions League trophy at Cibeles fountain with 30,000 supporters
• Euro 2016 watch: Anthony Martial, Dele Alli, Renato Sanches — 10 young players to keep an eye on in France
• Euro Cult heroes: Marco van Basten — 'Beautiful Striker' scored ultimate Dutch volley of Euro '88
Lewandowski, 27, has been on Madrid’s radar since he scored four goals against them in the 2013 Champions League semi-final for previous club Borussia Dortmund.
He has a contract in Munich until 2019, but has made it clear he is weighing up his options at German champions Bayern, who he joined in 2014 on a free transfer from Dortmund
The Champions League, or European Cup, which Madrid won for the 11th time in Saturday’s final, is the only club title to have eluded Lewandowski at Dortmund and Bayern.
“I’ve been in Germany for six years, have won everything here. Sometimes you have to consider whether it makes sense to try something new,” Lewandowski said.
But Bayern’s chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said the Bavarian giants have “no pain barrier” when it comes to what they will pay to keep the striker in Munich.
"One thing I know for sure: Robert Lewandowski will play in the upcoming season at Bayern Munich. There is no need to think anything else," Rummenigge is quoted in magazine Kicker.
“The decision has been made: we won’t let Robert Lewandowski go, regardless of what offer lands on the table.
“There is no pain-barrier (to what Bayern will pay) when it comes to Robert.”
Lewandowski has so far avoided joining fellow Bayern stars Manuel Neuer, Thomas Mueller, Jerome Boateng, David Alaba and Javier Martinez who have all extended their Munich contracts until 2021.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport