Kahn rules out Bayern striker move for Lewandowski replacement

Bayern Munich chief executive Oliver Kahn has ruled out a move for another striker, despite the sale of Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona.

The Bundesliga champions have been linked with moves for Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane in recent weeks, although the club have distanced themselves from such rumours.

Lewandowski scored 50 goals in all competitions last season but made it clear he wanted a new challenge in Spain and secured a move to Barca in mid-July.

Speaking after Bayern’s 5-3 DFL-Supercup victory against RB Leipzig, Kahn said there was “no discussion” about bringing in another number nine.

“That was strong,” he said of the performance to BILD. “You could see how many opportunities we had going forward, how many different formations we had, how surprising we can be, how many good footballers are there, how much speed we can bring into the game with many, many extremely fast players.

“It’s the case that we still have options in the current team. [Joshua] Zirkzee is there, [Eric] Choupo-Moting is there, then the young Mathys Tel, who is training incredibly well at the moment. We would also have opportunities there.”

Five different players found the net for Julian Nagelsmann’s side against Leipzig, including new arrival Sadio Mane, and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic was pleased to see the variety that Bayern displayed.

“You could see that we are extremely dangerous, that we have many fast and dangerous players,” he told BILD. “That’s the idea.

“Of course, it’s a different way of playing. If the boys do what we envision, I think we can spread the goals on many shoulders.”

While Salihamidzic stopped short of also ruling out a new striker arriving at the Allianz Arena, he did hint that the club’s incomings may be done for this transfer window, adding: “The transfer market runs until August 31, but usually we have completed our planning by then.”