Respected Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has claimed that Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski is seriously interested in joining Real Madrid.
Talk of the 27-year-old moving to the Bernabeu at the end of the season has gathered speed in recent days, but Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez refused to comment on the striker when questioned at a press conference on Monday.
Despite Benitez's silence, Balague has said that Los Blancos are very interested in the Polish international, while the player is also strongly considering a move.
"Those in the player's close circle view enormous potential in a possible [Gareth] Bale-Lewandowski partnership and feel the time is right for him to make the move to the Spanish capital," Balague told Sky Sports News.
"He never thought he would have the chance to join Madrid while Cristiano Ronaldo was at the peak of his form but in Poland, the belief is that the Portugal forward and Karim Benzema's time at the club is coming to an end.
"At 27, Lewandowski would be the ideal piece in a squad renovation project designed to gee up Real's fanbase. The player knows that at Real Madrid, he will have the chance to challenge for individual awards that would be impossible at other clubs."
Lewandowski, who joined Bayern from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2014, has scored 20 times in 22 appearances for his German club this season.