Fergie dismay as Bayern hijack Man United's £30m move for Dortmund hitman Lewandowski

By John Edwards

Published: 17:19 EDT, 25 April 2013 | Updated: 17:19 EDT, 25 April 2013

Sir Alex Ferguson is used to getting his own way in the transfer market, but he may have to settle for the role of bystander in an increasingly bitter stand-off between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich over Europe’s most-wanted striker, Robert Lewandowski.

The Manchester United manager can only look on in dismay at the way Bayern have hijacked his move for Lewandowski but run into fierce resistance from the club they seem sure to meet in next month’s Champions League final at Wembley.

Wanted man: Robert Lewandowski stunned Real Madrid with four goals in their semi-final clash

Bayern are as good as there, after stunning Barcelona 4-0 in Tuesday’s opening leg, while Dortmund are well placed after Lewandowski scored all four goals in a 4-1 win over Real Madrid.

United’s scout in Germany looked on as the 24-year-old sent his stock soaring even higher.

Ferguson was convinced Lewandowski was bound for Old Trafford until Pep Guardiola agreed to take over at Bayern and ordered his new employers to relieve Dortmund of their two best players.

The first is in the bag after Bayern met Mario Gotze’s £32million release clause, and there was a brazen attempt to force through the second yesterday, after Lewandowski’s agent claimed he had struck a deal with another club. He did not name the club but,  since rumours have been rife in Germany that a  pre-contract document at Bayern contains the Poland striker’s signature, he hardly needed to.

United also took the chance to run the rule over Dortmund centre back Mats Hummels and Real midfielder Luka Modric on Wednesday night.

Game on: Lewandowski gets on the end of a cross to put Dortmund 1-0 up in Germany

Double trouble: The Pole makes it 2-0 as the Real Madrid defenders appeal in vain for offside

Meanwhile, West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has revealed that Lewandowski is the one that got away.

Allardyce tried to sign the striker for just £3m in 2010 when he was at Blackburn. However, he failed to convince the Ewood Park board to stump up the cash.

Allardyce said: ‘I think about it every time I see him play. I think the board said we are not going to commit that amount of money. It was three or four million Euros. There were a lot of people looking at him at that time but we had the edge over everyone else because of the attraction of the Premier League. It didn’t happen and it will be  about £40m after Wednesday night.’

Pick of the bunch: Lewandowski completes his hat-trick as the Germans head for the final

Over and out: Lewandowski slotted home his fourth from the penalty sport as Dortmund eased to victory