Transfer news: Chelsea and Arsenal told 'animal' Mario Mandzukic is not for sale despite incoming arrival of Robert Lewandowski at Bayern Munich

Bayern's sporting director says the striker is not surplus to requirements

Mario Mandzukic scores against Manchester United earlier this month (Getty Images)

Bayern Munich's sporting director Matthias Sammer has insisted that striker Mario Mandzukic will not be leaving the club in the summer, despite the imminent arrival of Robert Lewandowski.

Mandzukic has reportedly interested the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Juventus, but Sammer has moved quickly to clarify the Croatian's position with the German champions with Lewandowski joining from Borussia Dortmund this summer, claiming that he certainly is not surplus to requirements.

"Nobody even has to bother making an approach for Mandzukic," Sammer said about the 27-year-old, who has scored 17 goals in 28 Bundesliga matches this season.

"He is incredibly important to Bayern. I always affectionately say that he plays like an animal.

"It is simply amazing how much work he does for the team and how much running he does during a game.

"They always try to provoke him because he really hurts his opponents with his work-rate."

Mandzukic headed in Bayern Munich's equaliser against Manchester United in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final earlier this month, scoring just 22 seconds after Patrice Evra gave United the lead at the Allianz Arena.