After two years in the bottom of the table, VfB Stuttgart finally wants to return to safe territory. The squad will also be changed in some places, even if the rain of money from the Porsche deal has little impact on it. SPOX shows the transfer rumors about the club and which positions the Swabians still have to act on.
VfB Stuttgart will receive 100 million euros through the entry of Porsche and its subsidiary MHP. In return, the Swabians will play their home games in the “MHPArena” in the future.
Sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth will not have much money for transfers. The club is still badly hit by the red numbers during the corona pandemic. True to the Swabian motto “work, create, build a house”, the investment should be handled with care. The focus is on sustainability, which is why the holes in infrastructure and digitization should sometimes be plugged.
But what about the squad of VfB Stuttgart, who, despite great recognition in the general perception, had recently played twice for relegation? Which positions are needed and which players could still leave the club?
SPOX gives an insight into the rumor mill surrounding VfB.
VfB Stuttgart, transfers and rumours: These players have left the club
With the exception of Coulibaly, with whom no contract could be extended, all previous departures from VfB Stuttgart were planned. A separation from Tomás was also foreseeable after the end of the loan deal with Sporting Lisbon. The agreed purchase option of EUR 15 million could not be realized.
Thanks to a clause that ex-sports director Sven Mislintat had anchored in the contract, the Swabians earn money from the sale to VfL Wolfsburg (ten million euros with bonuses). VfB could pocket up to 1.5 million euros if all bonuses were achieved.
It shouldn’t have surprised anyone that Müller left the club. The keeper had lost his regular position to Fabian Bredlow in the previous season. Something should therefore also be done in the goalkeeper position. More on that later.
It is also clear that there will still be a few departures. The squad is far too big with 33 players, which is why Ömer Beyaz, Momo Cisse and Gil Dias, among others, no longer have a future at the club. In Faghir, a prank candidate has already gone on loan.
VfB Stuttgart, transfers and rumours: These players have been signed
Additions: Serhou Guirassy (Stade Rennes, 9 million euros), Woo-yeong Jeong (SC Freiburg, 2.8 million euros), Jovan Milosevic (Vojvodina, 1.2 million euros), Maximilian Mittelstädt (Hertha BSC, 0.5 million euros), Matej Maglica (0.45 million euros), Jamie Leweling (Union Berlin, loan with option to buy)
Probably the most important personal details were already clarified before the relegation games against Hamburger SV. Goal-getter Guirassy, the Stuttgart life insurance company in the fight to stay up in the league, was committed for a decent amount of money.
In addition, the squad was sensibly strengthened for smaller sums. In Mittelstädt, Sebastian Hoeneß finally got a defensive-oriented left-back and thus has an alternative to the much more offensive Borna Sosa (if he stays). With Jeong, the offensive has gained versatility. In addition to his variability, the only 23-year-old also has a lot of potential for development. He had only occasionally flashed his qualities in Freiburg.
VfB also managed a small transfer coup with Milosevic. The 17-year-old is one of the greatest youngsters of the 2005 vintage. The 1.92 meter tall Serb gained notoriety through reaching the semi-finals at the U17 World Cup, with five goals he became the tournament’s top scorer. Interesting: Milosevic even canceled some top clubs (Atlético Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg, Benfica Lisbon, Red Star Belgrade).
Coulibaly will also be replaced by Leweling on loan, who failed to make it through in his first season at Union Berlin. If he uses his potential, which the winger had already shown in his first Bundesliga season for Greuther Fürth, he could be kept for five million euros.
VfB Stuttgart, transfers and rumors: possible departures
VfB Stuttgart, transfers and rumours: are two star defenders leaving?
In addition to the players already mentioned, who should definitely leave (Beyaz, Cisse and Dias), there are two more painful departures: Borna Sosa and Konstantinos Mavropanos – there are persistent rumors about both of them again.
Sosa is not really concrete yet, but he himself left his future open in the end. “If something good comes up for the club and me, we will talk,” he said. Allegedly, AS Roma from Serie A should show interest.
The Croatian international appropriately said that Italy and Spain would appeal to him. But England would be “perfect” for him. In that regard, the rumor mill is still cool. A trip from Sosa to another club may be nipped in the bud again.
Especially since VfB is no longer necessarily dependent on a sale from its top performers thanks to the Porsche deal. This also applies to Mavropanos, where the competition is significantly higher.
Several top-class clubs are said to be interested in the Greek. The 25-year-old is particularly popular in Italy.
Allegedly Inter Milan, Juventus Turin, SSC Napoli and FC Turin put out feelers for him. They are all looking for a new centre-back. In addition, Atlético Madrid should be on Mavropanos like in winter.
VfB Stuttgart, transfers and rumors: horror scenario in the storm?
In the storm, VfB Stuttgart could actually face a horror scenario. Because Guirassy could actually leave the club again. The striker had an exit clause written into his recently signed contract – and he can draw it at any time as he wishes, including this summer.
VfB coach Hoeneß does not believe in saying goodbye to Guirassy, who finally solved the Swabian striker problem after the departure of Sasa Kalajdzic, but says he is prepared for anything. “Regardless of that, as a coach you obviously hope to be able to retain the best players,” he explained table football.
After all, VfB can probably count on a sum of between 15 and 20 million euros if Guirassy makes the departure. Money that would then necessarily have to flow into a new striker. There should already be a candidate (see below).
In addition, Luca Pfeiffer could leave the club. After a disappointing pre-season, he is said to be on the test. If the performances in preparation are right, he will probably get one last chance.
VfB Stuttgart, transfers and rumors: possible additions
VfB Stuttgart transfers and rumours: who could replace Guirassy?
There is currently only one name haunting the Neckar when it comes to Guirassy’s possible successor: Vangelis Pavlidis.
The striker, not so well known in Germany, had recently made a name for himself in the Netherlands with AZ Alkmaar and in the Greek national team. He still has a German past to show for himself.
Pavlidis played for VfL Bochum in his youth and later for Borussia Dortmund. The 24-year-old, who scored 22 goals and 14 assists in 40 competitive games last season, is expected to cost around ten million euros.
In addition, it is possible that U17 goal machine Milosevic will score a few minutes in the Bundesliga much earlier than expected.
VfB Stuttgart, transfers and rumours: goalkeeper from FC Bayern?
The goalkeeper discussion was the most present topic in Stuttgart during the relegation battle last season. After Müller’s departure, a new keeper should come to the Neckar, who has the potential to bury the debate for the time being.
Talent Dennis Seimen should slip into this role in the long run. A great future is predicted for the 17-year-old. In order to pave the way for him, Wohlgemuth wants to hire a man with experience.
In this regard, two goalkeepers from FC Bayern Munich in particular were recently mentioned: Yann Sommer and Alexander Nübel. While Sommer, who is probably moving to Inter Milan anyway, did not go beyond a loose rumor, Nübel seems to be the predestined solution.
The 26-year-old not only has experience at the highest international level, but also has no future at Säbener Straße. This was shown by the recently published pictures of the FCB squad, in which neither Nübel’s name nor a picture of him could be seen.
A sticking point: VfB only wants to borrow Nübel, while Bayern actually only want to sell after the two-year loan deal with AS Monaco. According to reports, Stuttgart has increased its initial offer for a rental fee from 500,000 to one million euros.
It is doubtful whether this sum is enough for a rethink at Bayern. A decision is expected in the coming days. A serious alternative to Nübel is not emerging at the moment.
VfB Stuttgart, transfers and rumours: Talent or Bayern professional? Split in midfield
Something could also be done in attacking midfield. According to the Picture-Zeitung, VfB is interested in another Munich player. Accordingly, the Swabians are considering signing Malik Tillman.
The 21-year-old, who was loaned to Glasgow Rangers last season, will hardly get beyond the role of backup player at the German record champions. A situation that Stuttgart could take advantage of.
Therefore, a loan from Tillmann should be considered on the Neckar. A model that Bayern also prefer. At the same time, he could prematurely extend his contract at Säbener Straße, which runs until 2024. There is allegedly competition from Eintracht Frankfurt.
However, a Tillman loan would deny another talent in the VfB squad the chance of the long-awaited season. After several injuries, Lilian Egloff finally wants to get going – and he probably has to.
The 20-year-old faces a crucial season. After breaking his metatarsal in the 2020/21 season, he was lagging behind and only rarely made it into the professional squad. A loan or sale with a buyback option also seems conceivable, but Egloff should first prove himself in the preparation.
VfB Stuttgart in the squad check: conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that VfB has already done a lot of things right in the still young transfer window. It has been strengthened in a meaningful way and with the undoubtedly still existing construction sites (goal and offensive) players are being discussed who can lift Stuttgart to a higher level. Only in defense could things get tight if Mavropanos leaves.
But before that, a lot of mucking out has to be done. Even with the departures of Beyaz, Cisse and Dias, the squad with 30 games would still be far too full. However, these also threaten to become shopkeepers, while other players like Guirassy should not actually be given up.
Calm will return to the Neckar on September 1 at the earliest, when the transfer window closes. But then the squad – after two screwed up years far below their own potential – finally has to call up what’s in it. Otherwise, the next chaos season awaits.
