Robert Lewandowski Talks with Chelsea, Manchester United Denied by Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich have threatened any potential clubs seeking to speak to under-contract Robert Lewandowski with legal action amid rumours Manchester United and Chelsea have approached the forward and his representatives. 

As reported by ESPN FC, the Bavarians released an official statement via Sky Deutschland. In the statement, the club sent a clear warning and also assured fans that no discussions have taken place between the Poland international and interested teams:

"Robert Lewandowski is under contract at Bayern and only recently renewed his deal until 2021. Bayern Munich waste no thought on a Lewandowski move.

"There are no talks with other clubs, and there won't be any. If other clubs negotiate with players who are under long-term contracts, they risk FIFA punishment. The agent also confirmed to us that he has not held any contract talks."

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On Wednesday, Sky Sports' Guillem Balague reported Lewandowski's agent had already met with the two Premier League clubs, adding London was the player's preferred destination. Bayern wasted no time denying those claims, releasing their statement just hours later.

Tom Coast of Sport Witness was almost saddened by the Bundesliga champions' swift move:

While approaching players before being given permission by their current clubs―also known as tapping up―is illegal, it's a practice that likely happens often in modern football.

As shared by Simon Peach of the Press Association, Liverpool admitted to the practice while trying to land Southampton's Virgil van Dijk earlier this month, a move most fans reacted to with shock:

Unlike most clubs, Bayern are not afraid to call out wrong reports from the media, and they often do so in a hurry. On Monday, they released another statement, calling reports they were tracking Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo a "hoax" and saying the rumour had to be "consigned to the realms of fantasy."