If Robert Lewandowski was hoping to boost his chances of a big-money summer transfer with a good World Cup, he hasn’t got long left to make it happen. Ninety minutes plus injury time against Japan, to be precise, to validate his agent’s claim that he is “the world’s best striker” and therefore worthy of the astronomical transfer fee and wages he is seeking to leave Bayern Munich.

Not that Manchester United and Chelsea are probably paying too much attention to what Poland are doing in Russia. They’ve been willing to throw money at Lewy for years, and it will take more than a dodgy World Cup to change that.

The Star says the two Premier League giants (well, one giant and Chelsea) have “made contact” with Lewandowski’s agent, Pini Zahavi, after fresh comments from the Pole suggesting he is looking for a change of scenery.

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The 29-year-old told the Players’ Tribune (well specifically, he told Gerard Pique, who was interviewing him for the Players’ Tribune – no idea why) that he “doesn’t want to play in the same league forever, that’s for sure”. And after eight seasons in the Bundesliga, England seems his obvious destination.

Bayern remain “reluctant” to let him go, but Chelsea are aiming to tempt them into a sale by offering Alvaro Morata in part-exchange. Not sure how that’s supposed to tempt them.

Man Utd target Inter defender

Man Utd are also trying to strengthen their defence, with Gazzetta dello Sport claiming they have made a £57m offer for Inter Milan’s Slovakian defender Milan Skriniar. His name’s Milan and he plays in Milan – it’s perfect, he should just stay there.

In less bombastic Old Trafford transfer news from the Telegraph, Jose Mourinho is set to launch a non-sensational, small-money move for Stoke City goalkeeper Lee Grant. Mourinho wants the 35-year-old as his third choice keeper behind David de Gea and Sergio Romero. Oh well, at least he’ll have a good seat to watch all United’s games from.

Alasanne Plea is the latest striker reportedly identified by Tottenham to “support Harry Kane” up front. The Sun says Spurs have made a £23m bid for the 25-year-old Nice striker and a deal between the two clubs is moving “closer and closer”.

Although they’ve been saying that about Jorginho’s move to Manchester City for about six weeks and they still haven’t signed him. The Mirror reports that the Napoli midfielder’s agent has claimed the proposed £43m transfer is “close”, which is what he says every day.

Meanwhile, Everton are “keeping an eye” on Croatia forward Ante Rebic – the fella who scored that goal past a floundering Willy Caballero last week (Mirror). The Toffees are also saying their goodbyes to Wayne Rooney, who Sky Sports says will sign for DC United “in the next 36 hours” – unless he goes on one last bender in Merseyside before leaving forever.

Elsewhere, Arsenal’s Spanish defender Nacho Monreal could return to La Liga, with Real Sociedad interested in the 32-year-old left-back (Mirror), Southampton want Man City’s 22-year-old goalkeeper Angus Gunn in a deal that could be worth up to £15m (Mail) and Watford have made a remarkably low £1m bid for West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster (Mail). Or is the remarkable thing that £1m is now regarded as a paltry amount of money?