Chelsea transfer news: Robert Lewandowski made top target by Maurizio Sarri - EXCLUSIVE

CHELSEA still hope to persuade Bayern Munich to sell superstar striker Robert Lewandowski.

Posted Tuesday, July 31, 2018 by Dailystar.co.uk

Chelsea transfer news: Robert Lewandowski made top target by Maurizio Sarri - EXCLUSIVE
Chelsea transfer news: Bayern say Robert Lewandowski will not be sold

Real Madrid are also anxious to sign the 29-year-old £80m-plus rated hotshot.

But Bundesliga giants Bayern are steadfastly refusing to allow Lewandowski his wish to leave after four years in which he has scored 106 goals in 126 appearances.

The Blues were linked with Juventus star Gonzalo Higuain, but Starsport understands Lewandowski has always been their No.1 target this summer.

Time is running out for Chelsea and their new manager Maurizio Sarri, with the Premier League transfer window closing in nine days.

But Bayern have continued to maintain their hardline stance with Lewandowski, with their ego being bruised by him telling them he wants to quit and a failure to find a suitable replacement.

Yesterday their boss Niko Kovac once again insisted the ex-Borussia Dortmund star, who is under contract to Bayern for three more years, was going nowhere.

"He will not leave this club," he said. "We certainly don't want to let him go.

"It's true that Robert toys with going elsewhere. One thing is what he wants, and the other is what we want.

Chelsea transfer news: Robert Lewandowski made top target by Maurizio Sarri - EXCLUSIVE
Chelsea transfer news: Gonzalo Higuain has also been linked with the Blues

"It's our decision. Robert has a contract - I don't know how long - and will stay here as long as possible.

"We want to achieve a lot with him. He is a great footballer who has already achieved a lot in the Bundesliga, has scored many goals and will now score many goals in the new season."

While Chelsea continue to fight to land Lewandowski, it is understood the west Londoners have accepted they will not be able to sign Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford

The England World Cup hero was viewed as a potential replacement for Thibaut Courtois, if the Belgium star - as anticipated - gets his switch to Real Madrid.

But Everton have opened talks over a new deal with Pickford, who they signed form Sunderland last summer.

Paris St-Germain's German keeper Kevin Trapp and Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak are the two star-name keepers Chelsea are investigating signing instead of Pickford.