Niko Kovac is adamant Robert Lewandowski will not leave Bayern Munich despite the reported Real Madrid target’s open interest in a new challenge.
Lewandowski’s agent, Pini Zahavi, has previously confirmed his client’s hopes to move on from the Allianz Arena and Kovac is aware of the desire.
READ: Aubameyang’s a friend, not a foe – Lacazette
European champions Madrid have long been linked with the Poland international, who would go some way to easing the goalscoring burden left by Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Juventus.
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke added further fuel to the transfer speculation by revealing he would be willing to spend €100million to bring Lewandowski back to his former club.
Kovac, though, is not prepared to lose his star striker.
‘There’s nothing new with Robert, it’s clear that he will not leave this club because we have a top striker and we certainly do not want to relinquish him or give him away,’ Kovac told Sky Sport Germany.
READ MORE: Mourinho laments United’s transfer business
‘We want to achieve a lot with him. He is a great footballer, who has achieved a lot in the Bundesliga, scored many goals and now in the new season certainly will score many goals.’
Though he acknowledged Lewandowski’s interest in leaving, Kovac described the 29-year-old as a ‘full professional’ that would not attempt to force a move.
‘It’s true that Robert toys with going elsewhere. Only [he has] one thing he likes, the other is what we like to do,’ the former Eintracht Frankfurt coach said.
‘Robert has a contract – I do not know how long – and he will certainly stay as long as possible here.’
