Real Madrid Transfer News: Robert Lewandowski Keen, Cristiano Ronaldo Rumours

Real Madrid possess a genuine interest in signing Bayern Munich’s star centre-forward, and he could be a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Balague confirmed the Polish international striker is a primary target for Los Blancos as they seek to reinvigorate their forward line, and Lewandowski himself quite fancies the chance of donning the iconic all-white jersey:

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Those in the player's close circle view enormous potential in a possible Bale-Lewandowski partnership and feel the time is right for him to make the move to the Spanish capital.

He never thought he would have the chance to join Madrid while Cristiano Ronaldo was at the peak of his form but in Poland, the belief is that the Portugal forward and Karim Benzema's time at the club is coming to an end. …

At 27, Lewandowski would be the ideal piece in a squad renovation project designed to gee up Real's fanbase. The player knows that at Real Madrid, he will have the chance to challenge for individual awards that would be impossible at other clubs.

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CURTO DE LA TORRE/Getty Images

Rumours have long been swirling about Ronaldo’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, with Balague himself claiming recently this campaign could well be his final one at the club, with Paris Saint-Germain said to be interested. Here’s a look at how Lewandowski compares to Real’s all-time record goalscorer in league matches this season:

	Lewandowski	Ronaldo
Apps (sub)	12 (2)	14
Goals	14	10
Assists	1	3
Shots per game	5.6	6.7
Key passes per game	0.6	1.4
Aerial duels won per game	1.2	1.9

Lewandowski would definitely be an intriguing acquisition for Real. While he doesn’t possess the same dynamism or trickery as Ronaldo, the former Borussia Dortmund man is a wonderful forward and a player that’s taken his game on to new heights during the course of the 2015-16 season so far.

Around the penalty area the 27-year-old is razor sharp, his balance is immaculate and his instinctive play not only enables him to score plenty of goals but brings fellow Bayern Munich players into the contest too.

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Goalscoring is his bread and butter, though. Earlier this season, in a devastating nine-minute spell against Wolfsburg, we were witness to just how clinical he can be when chances do come his way:

The prospect of Ronaldo and Lewandowski lining up together would be a tantalising one for Madridistas, although it seems likely to be one or the other at this juncture.

Indeed, the Portuguese is a player who looks increasingly like he could do with a fresh start. At Real he has achieved plenty, pushing this team to one league title and one Champions League win. But in recent weeks, despite Ronaldo maintaining a pretty impressive strike rate in front of goal, there’s been a sense his relationship with the club has become stale.

Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

As noted by Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC, there doesn’t seem to be much unity between the attacking players at the Santiago Bernabeu:

While Real may want Lewandowski, and the Pole may want the move, Bayern will obviously have a massive say in whether or not this transfer goes ahead. The German giants do not sell key players often, and while they have another goalscorer extraordinaire in Thomas Muller, there’ll be a huge void to fill at the Allianz Arena should the striker depart.

The same goes for Ronaldo at the Bernabeu. He may not be quite as adventurous a player as he used to be, but when the ball comes into the box the Portuguese is still a pure goalscorer. Nevertheless, for a player who turns 31 in February, should Real receive a substantial offer for him, it’s something they’d have to take some serious time to consider.