Robert Lewandowski Reportedly Asks to Talk with Real Madrid Amid Exit Rumours

Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski has reportedly made it clear to the club he wants to negotiate a summer transfer to Real Madrid.

According to Agustin Martin of AS, the Poland international's exit from the Allianz Arena is inevitable and a case of "where to" and "on what terms." That's despite recent claims from Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge that Lewandowski will definitely be in Munich next season.

"It has been made plain to the powers that be in Munich that Lewandowski is taking the necessary steps to end up at another major European outfit—if at all possible Real Madrid," Martin reported.

Bayern will look to put across they had no option but to sell the 29-year-old because the striker decided to reject the club's values, as Martin noted: "The narrative is clear: The player comes out of it as the bad guy."

Here's a look at how the story was covered on AS' front page:

As Martin relayed, Rummenigge has previously admitted that Lewandowski sees Real Madrid as "the club of his dreams." Bayern are also reported to be considering replacements, with RB Leipzig's Timo Werner, Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani and Chelsea's Alvaro Morata said to be on the club's shortlist.

Despite Lewandowski's age, the Santiago Bernabeu club is ready to part with around €150 million (£131 million) to secure the signature of one of the world's finest goalscorers, according to Martin.

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It would be a major statement from Madrid if they were to sign Lewandowski, as Bayern are not typically bullied in the transfer market. While the money mentioned is extraordinary, replacing their No. 9 would be a difficult challenge.

As Bet365 illustrated, for both club and country, the centre-forward has long been one of the most prolific players around:

Although Madrid have one of the best goalscorers in the game at their disposal in Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese thrives when he isn't the man leading the attack in isolation. In recent seasons, Karim Benzema has provided a tremendous foil for Ronaldo.

Benzema has been well short of the standards required this term, though, and a new superstar at the point of the attack would refresh this Madrid team.

According to Bleacher Report's Dean Jones, Los Blancos aren't the only team chasing the former Borussia Dortmund man:

If he were to leave in the summer, it would be impossible for Bayern to find an immediate replacement for Lewandowski. Still, that's not to say the deal wouldn't make sense for the club; a rebuild is surely on the cards in the coming seasons, with key men like the striker, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Arturo Vidal in their peak years or past them.

The sum of money noted would allow Bayern to bring in another high-class forward and possibly bolster other areas of their squad.