Veteran Bayern Munich striker Claudio Pizarro looks set to be offered a one-year extension to his contract, according to SportBild.
The 35-year-old has enjoyed a new lease of life since returning to Bayern last season, scoring 24 goals in 53 games despite largely being used as a backup player and substitute. Pizarro has been a terrific servant to the Bavarian giants, also enjoying tremendous success during his first spell with the club between 2001 and 2007, though he struggled in his single season in the Premier League with Chelsea, scoring just two goals. Still, he now looks to be a valued member of Pep Guardiola’s immensely talented squad, despite the imminent arrival of prolific Polish striker Robert Lewandowski from Borussia Dortmund this summer. Instead, news of this new contract for the Peruvian forward could signal the end of Mario Mandzukic’s Bayern stay, with the unsettled Croatian striker already being targeted by the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid.
Mandzukic is seemingly not content to be a backup to Lewandowski, and Bayern may now be happy to keep Pizarro on in that role instead as they prepare to sell the 27-year-old.
