Dortmund’s Lewandowski says he still wants to play in the Premier League

LONDON — Robert Lewandowski has expressed his desire to play in the Premier League after insisting that his move from Borussia Dortmund to Bayen Munich next summer has not finalised.

The Poland forward will face England at Wembley tomorrow (Oct 15) as potentially the greatest threat to Roy Hodgson’s hopes of securing the victory required to confirm his team’s place at next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil.

With 10 goals to his name — including four in one game against Real Madrid — during Dortmund’s progression to last season’s Champions League final, Lewandowski has confirmed his status as one of Europe’s leading forwards, according to the Daily Telegraph.

It was thus not surprising to see big clubs such as Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea eager to sign the 25-year-old striker, whose contract with Dortmund expires at the end of this season.

Nonetheless, Lewandowski insisted his future remains unresolved and that he retains an ambition to play in England at some stage of his career.

“I will be able to sign a contract (with any club) in January, but I have never said that I will sign a contract with Bayern,” Lewandowski said. “It was a misunderstanding. It is true I had an opportunity to speak with Sir Alex Ferguson (last year), but we didn’t mention the transfer.

“One day I would like to play in Premier League. It would be a great experience.”

United’s interest in Lewandowski has waned since Ferguson was replaced by David Moyes as manager at the end of last season, while City’s interest did not progress following an inquiry to Dortmund about his availability this summer.

Bayern’s long-term pursuit of the player is expected to result in Lewandowski moving to the Allianz Arena at the end of this season, but Dortmund may have to sell the forward in January to avoid losing him for nothing to Bayern next summer.

Lewandowski admits, however, that he rejected the chance to move to England three years ago when Sam Allardyce attempted to secure a deal with Lech Poznan for a £3 million (S$5.97 million) transfer to Blackburn.

“There was a proposal from Blackburn,” Lewandowski said. “I even spoke with the former manager (Sam Allardyce). In the end, I decided that Dortmund gave me a better chance of development as a footballer.”

Despite ending England’s World Cup hopes in 1973 with a 1-1 draw in London, Poland have since lost on their last seven visits to Wembley.

The team have also been disqualified from the 2014 World Cup following last Friday’s 1-0 defeat to Ukraine. Thus, Poland are expected to arrive in the country with little to play for and Lewandowski admitted that England’s strength makes them favourites for victory.

“Of course I remember the 1973 match, not only because of our good game and the score but also the background and rainy weather,” Lewandowski said. “But we know all about this England team and the whole team is very dangerous. As always, we will have to watch out for Wayne Rooney. It’s not only the task for defenders, but for the whole team, and it will be a very hard match.

“We won’t be favourites and we don’t stand a chance of going through, but we want to go to Wembley and at least allow our supporters a little fun. I don’t know why we have good players at top clubs but we don’t have a team who can play ruthless football and kill teams off. In qualification, victories and points are the most important things, not the style of play.” AGENCIES