Manchester United Transfer News: Robert Lewandowski, Lorenzo Gonzalez Rumours

Manchester United are reportedly prepared to splash out £35 million to capture Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski.

That's according to German outlet Bild (h/t Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star), which further notes that United boss Louis van Gaal is hoping to tempt the striker with an incredible contract worth £11 million each year—over £200,000 per week.

The Pole is in electric form this season, per Squawka Football:

Indeed, the 27-year-old has accrued 23 goals and four assists in all competitions—meaning his combined contribution of 27 is just one fewer than the entire Red Devils team have managed in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League group stage.

At the start of the season, former United star and pundit Rio Ferdinand placed Lewandowski as the fifth-best centre-forward in the world:

After his form in this campaign, he may well have moved up at least a place or two. 

Lewandowski drew significant plaudits for his astounding performance against Wolfsburg in September, per Jack Pitt-Brooke of the Independent and football writer Stefan Buczko:

By contrast, United have been tedious and uninspiring in the final third, creating few chances and scoring even fewer goals.

Wayne Rooney has scored just seven goals this season, with four coming against Club Brugge in Champions League qualification and Ipswich Town in the League Cup.

Jon Super/Associated Press

While a top-class striker would of course help, as football writer Liam Canning notes, it's still not a guarantee to get United firing on all cylinders again:

"

Genuinely think LvG would stop Ronaldo/Neymar/Messi from scoring in this side.

— Liam (@OffsideLiam) December 12, 2015"

It might not matter anyway, as £35 million might not be enough to prise him away from the Bundesliga.

Former Bayern player and Ballon d'Or winner Jean-Pierre Papin told French outlet Le 10 Sport (h/t Malata): "I can’t imagine that Bayern Munich would sell their player to a direct rival. It’s one of the players who has scored the most."

Meanwhile, Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge spoke to Bild (h/t Malata) of Real Madrid's rumoured interest: "I can imagine Real Madrid is interested in Lewandowski. But it's pointless. He has a contract running three-and-a-half years. I can imagine as well Robert will stay even longer. One look at the expiry date of his contract and I am not worried a bit."

Bayern have proved notoriously resilient when it comes to keeping their top stars while they still have use for them, so for United to land Lewandowski, they will likely need the player himself to push for a move.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

The Red Devils are also being linked with younger talent as they build a team capable of challenging for titles in the future, and to that end, they are rumoured to be interested in Swiss prospect Lorenzo Gonzalez, per Sport Bild (h/t Jamie Styles of the Daily Star).

The 15-year-old forward currently plies his trade with Swiss second-division side Servette and is described as "highly rated," with Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund named among his prospective suitors.

United have had success in recruiting young forwards this season, with Anthony Martial providing a sole beacon of hope up front, but if Gonzalez is snapped up, it will be some time before he's ready for the first team.

If United get him, expect him to feature in their youth teams ahead of a possible loan move somewhere down the line as he continues to develop.