Foster urges Manchester United to sign free-agent Lewandowski on a one-year deal

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster has urged the club to sign Robert Lewandowski on a one-year contract this summer, arguing the free-agent striker could set a professional standard for United’s younger players as they prepare for a return to Champions League football.

Lewandowski, 37, is set to leave Barcelona when his contract expires at the end of the season. The Polish forward scored 120 goals in 193 appearances for the Spanish club after joining from Bayern Munich in 2022.

“Lewandowski’s on a free transfer, he’s leaving Barcelona at the end of this season,” Foster told the Manchester Evening News. “Somebody like that — Man United have got a massive history of signing these sort of players on one-year deals, just bringing that level of experience. Having somebody like that come through the door really sets the tone for a lot of the young lads that are coming through. They get to see what the level is like, they get to see the professionalism of a Robert Lewandowski.”

Foster pointed to Edinson Cavani as a precedent, with the Uruguay striker signing a one-year deal at Old Trafford in 2020. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is another comparable example, having joined on a similar basis in 2016 and going on to score 29 goals in 53 appearances across all competitions before leaving in 2018.

Beyond a striker, Foster outlined a broader rebuild. “I think Man United need three or four, maybe even five players,” he said. “They need a couple of big midfielders, they need a couple of big defenders, and if they can get a killer striker, then they will genuinely be threatening next season. They definitely need somebody to try and replace Casemiro, because he’s been a shining star for them this season.”

United are already moving in the transfer market, with the club reported to be closing in on a deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson. They have also been linked with Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and West Ham’s Mateus Fernandez as Michael Carrick shapes his squad for European competition next term.