Where would Robert Lewandowski fit in at Man Utd?

Bayern striker is being linked with a move to Old Trafford

Manchester United have brought in three signings so far this summer, but the rumour mill suggests they’re lining up the biggest deal yet for Robert Lewandowski.  

Bayern Munich are reportedly open to selling the striker this summer, which could pave the way for a move to Old Trafford. He’s currently 5/1 to join United.

Jose Mourinho already has Romelu Lukaku up front, so how would the Poland international fit in if he does arrive? The Coral News Team have looked at the options…

Two up top

Having to deal with the twin threats of Lukaku and Lewandowski would be a nightmare for opposition defenders. They’ve scored 148 league goals between them over the last two seasons.

Lukaku is exceptional in the air and very few defenders can handle his athleticism, while Lewandowski is the more clinical finisher. They could complement each other very well.

In order to play both of them up front, Mourinho would likely have to play a 4-4-2 or a 3-5-2 system. But United don’t really have the wide players needed to make either formation work. That means it’ll be hard to fit them both in, unless Mourinho draws inspiration from Roberto Martinez.

Lukaku out wide

During his time at Everton, Martinez occasionally played Lukaku wide on the right. The 25-year-old bullied opposition full-backs there, most famously Arsenal’s Nacho Monreal.

He also wheeled out the tactic for Belgium during the World Cup, where Brazil struggled to cope with the forward’s physicality in the quarter-finals.

If Alexis Sanchez is an automatic pick on the left, there’s a place up for grabs on the right. Playing Lukaku there, with Lewandowski up front, would give United real firepower.

But Lukaku has only really been used on the right for specific games. Would clubs work out how to stop him if he’s used there more regularly?

One or the other

Alternatively, Mourinho could weigh up which of the two would be a better fit for each game. Against teams that sit deep, Lukaku’s ability to occupy the defence could be more handy. When the opposition are prepared to step up, it could be better suited to Lewandowski’s predatory instincts.

Since Zlatan Ibrahimovic left, Mourinho hasn’t seemed to trust any of the alternatives to Lukaku up front. Last season he said he was unable to rest Lukaku, despite the former Chelsea man being tired, because he didn’t have any alternatives.

That wouldn’t be the case if Lewandowski came in. United would be able to call on two of Europe’s most potent hitmen.

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