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Dortmund won't be bullied by Bayern on Lewandowski

As Borussia Dortmund appear to be holding firm on their star prize Robert Lewandowski, Christian Crowther assesses the ramifications...

Germany's power couple have been squabbling again in the transfer saga that is Dortmund striker Lewandowski's proposed move to their treble-winning foes Bayern Munich.

After suffering the duel indignities of conceding their Bundesliga title and then losing the Champions League final to their great rivals, Dortmund have lost patience with Bayern over Lewandowski's signature.

Having already lost one of their jewels to Bayern in the shape of midfielder Mario Gotze, Dortmund's chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke was decidedly blunt about the club's stance on the matter.

He told German newspaper Bild: "Robert Lewandowski will definitely not transfer to Bayern Munich in 2013. This is final. We have informed Robert and his advisers. The Bayern case is closed because there was no written offer."

Watzke didn't however rule out the possibility of Lewandowski being transferred to a different club.

So, what does this signify for Dortmund and is it a good decision for the club moving forward?

In one respect, it does send out a strong message to the rest of Europe that Dortmund intend to remain a force at Europe's top table next season, despite being rated 28.0 long shots to go one better in the Champions League.

However, the decision could also be seen as a little foolhardy given that the Pole will almost certainly go to Bayern for nothing at the end of the 2013/14 season.

Jurgen Klopp has become something of a master in rebuilding squads at the Westfalenstadion and, given the potential revenue of £30 million-plus that the sale was set to generate, Dortmund could be cutting their noses.

Victims of their own success in recent years, Dortmund have still found a way to cope when players such as Shinji Kagawa have left for pastures new and, with a combined £60 from Gotze and Lewandowski to reinvest, this could easily have been the case once more.

Bayern's overhauling of Barcelona as the best team on the continent means they literally have the pick of any player on the planet right now and the cash to back it up.

For the first time in many years, a team other than Barcelona 5.2 will start as favourites for the Champions League next season, with Bayern installed as the 4.8 frontrunners.

Resistance will surely prove futile and perhaps a little foolish in the end.

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