Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller are closing in on the Bundesliga's record goal-haul for a partnership with the Bavarian club reportedly set to spend big to keep the duo together.
Muller netted twice and Lewandowski scored their third in Saturday’s 3-1 comeback win at home to Darmstadt for the runaway league leaders.
It was Bayern's last game before Tuesday's crunch Champions League last 16, first-leg clash at last season's finalists Juventus.
Lewandowski is the German league’s top scorer with 22 goals, from 21 games, with Muller on 17.
It leaves the pair with 39 Bundesliga goals between them and 56 in all competitions this season.
They are chasing Grafite and Edin Dzeko's league record of 54 league goals in the 2008/09 season when Wolfsburg won the title.
Of course, both Bayern stars already have lucrative long-term contracts.
Read more: Ian Hawkey's Around Europe – A prodigal prince returns in Boateng to AC Milan
Also see: The National's Champions League last 16 landing page
Lewandowski’s deal until 2019 currently pays him around €9 million (Dh36.7m) per season, while last December Muller signed a bumper extension until 2021 – worth a reported €15 million per year.
But Bayern want to offer Lewandowski a two-year extension – and would need to raise his pay to around the €18 million Real Madrid reportedly wanted to pay him.
With the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain also said to be chasing him, Bayern need to ensure their star is happy – and at least as well paid as his teammate.
German magazine Sport Bild say the first round of contract talks took place in early February when Lewandowski's advisors Maik Barthel and Cezary Kucharski met club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and financial director Christian Dreesen.
Kucharski had stirred things up by saying there was “something in” rumours that Real were trying to sign Lewandowski.
However, the Spanish giants now appear to have given up the chase.
Marca journalist Carlos Carpio tweeted on Friday that chasing Lewandowski's signature is no longer "considered a priority" by Real, because "he is close to renewing with Bayern".
Lewandowski took heart when fellow Bayern stars Jerome Boateng, Xabi Alonso and Muller all signed contract extensions before Christmas.
"Of course, I have recently noticed how the club is preparing for the future," the 27-year-old told Sport Bild.
“For players like Jerome Boateng and Thomas Muller to extend is a sign Bayern can keep their players despite the money in England.
“I know there are prospects abroad, but I can imagine staying here ... because the club is known to recognise achievements.”
In short: they pay well.
Poland's Lewandowski forged a reputation as one of the world's top strikers in four seasons at Borussia Dortmund.
Despite Dortmund’s best efforts to keep him, he walked away to join rivals Bayern on a free transfer in 2014.
Bavarian born-and-bred with a thick accent, Muller is the team joker for both club and country who rose through Bayern’s academy.
He has held down a first-team place since the start of the 2009/10 season.
Bayern Munich have already turned down a reported bid for him of over €100 million from Manchester United.
"Yes, there were offers," Muller told Saturday's edition of Munich newspaper AZ.
"But we are in the top three in Europe with Barcelona and Real Madrid.
“The English are very powerfully financed, but whether they return to the top of European football remains to be seen.
“From a sporting perspective, it was easy to extend here.
“When the contract expires, I’ll be over 30, but I think I can keep the level over the next few years in order to be successful here.”
Lewandowski has offered no such commitment, especially with Carlo Ancelotti to replace Pep Guardiola as Bayern’s head coach next season.
"Many times I have heard players say such a thing and then comes another coach and they were no longer in such high demand. Or they got a very interesting offer," he told Die Welt.
“In any case, I feel very well at Bayern and will always give everything for the team while I’m here.”
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