Real Madrid Transfer News: Lothar Matthaus Denies Robert Lewandowski Rumours

Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus has claimed Real Madrid are not interested in bringing Robert Lewandowski to the Spanish capital this summer, in contrast to ongoing transfer rumours.

The former Germany international told Sky (h/t AS) his sources have told him Los Blancos are not pushing for the move:

"According to the information I have, Real Madrid is not interested in Lewandowski.

"I hear he is rather apathetic to training, and maybe to make the difference in big games.

"It's that small percentage of investment that he's missing. He has to focus on what's important and not about his persistent changes of opinion."

The Polish striker has been linked with the Spanish giants for years, and the speculation has intensified significantly in the last few months. Bayern are said to be desperate to keep hold of their top forward and will do whatever is in their power to block his move, per Alberto Pinero of Goal.

Spanish reporters and news outlets seem relatively certain the move will go ahead, and Sky Sports' Guillem Balague even discussed the tactical ramifications of a transfer:

The 29-year-old is in the midst of another fine season for Bayern, but his form has come under question in recent weeks. Per AS, there have been some reports he's been lethargic in training of late―something Matthaus backed up―and many have linked his struggles to the transfer speculation.

He also had a miserable outing in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Real, missing several great chances in the 2-1 loss. Some fans have even suggested demoting him to the bench for the return leg:

The former Borussia Dortmund man has been Bayern's top scoring option for years now and is on pace to cross the 30-goal mark in the Bundesliga for the third straight season.

Lewandowski is widely regarded as one of the most well-rounded strikers in the world, as well as a prolific scorer in and around the box. At the age of 29, he's right in his prime and could be an immediate-impact signing in the summer.

Here's a look at his rise to stardom:

Real's long-time striker Karim Benzema has lost his shooting boots in the past two seasons, and Los Blancos are expected to seek an upgrade in the summer. His main backup, the talented Borja Mayoral, recently told Gol (via Goal's Jamie Smith) he expects to leave the club in search of minutes.

Lewandowski could be the perfect target, although convincing Bayern to sell could prove tricky. The Bavarians have all the leverage, with Lewandowski under contract for the foreseeable future.