It hasn’t been the easiest of pre-seasons for last year’s surprise package, as Bundesliga 2024 runners-up VfB Stuttgart try to get themselves together in time for the big kick-off in three weeks’ time.
Despite such a sensational campaign, the Stuttgart fans have not been happy in recent weeks and have just voted out Claus Vogt as president. There has, for some time, been a fractious relationship between the board and VfB’s supporters and, at a general meeting this week, 86-per cent of members voted against the 54-year-old staying in charge.
Fans have been unhappy with investment from car manufacturer Porsche, recent player sales, and what they see as a lack of ambition from the board.
Head coach Seb Hoeness worked wonders in his first season at the helm, and now he must go again, but he has work to do to replace some key players and mould a new team capable of challenging for a top four place. Whether he is on the same page as the Stuttgart money men is open to question.
One of the big Bundesliga 2024 news stories so far this summer was Die Schwaben’s sale of their prized asset Serhou Guirassy, sold to Borussia Dortmund for €18 million. He scored 28 goals in Stuttgart’s charge to the Champions League last season and, at 28 years of age, Guirassy is at his peak, so this is a serious loss to Die Schwaben.
And the news that his co-striker Denis Undav has gone back to Brighton has compounded the fans’ worries, but Hoeness has already moved in the market to bring in a new goal scorer.
Bosnian striker Ermedin Demirovic has joined VfB in a €21 million move from FC Augsburg, a club record fee, and he has a very strong record at this level, scoring 23 goals in 66 matches for his former club.
And last season he was simply outstanding, as captain Demirovic scored 15 goals and made nine assists in 33 league games.
He could become the next fan favourite at the club and is clearly delighted to be in Stuttgart, saying: “I’m so pleased to be joining VfB and can’t wait to get started. After we played in Stuttgart I immediately became a fan of the club. I like the team here and the way they play. I know some of the guys already so it shouldn’t take me too long to settle in.”
Hoeness has also moved to bring two creative players in to provide the ammunition for Demirovic, signing right winger Jamie Leweling from FC Union Berlin at a price of €5 million and attacking midfielder Fabien Rieder on loan from Stade Rennais.
At the other end of the pitch Stuttgart have lost another big character following the sale of centre-back Waldermar Anton, also to Borussia Dortmund at a price of €22.5 million.
6’5” centre-back Jeff Chabot has arrived from Koln for a fee of €4 million, and the Hanau-born powerhouse will look to make his mark early in the campaign.
Eagles search for another goal scorer
In our SBOTOP review of Brighton’s transfer business, we reported the Seagulls’ plans to reintegrate Undav.
That means Stuttgart have lost both their main goal scorers and, so far, have brought just one replacement in. Having received a rebuff of his latest offer of around €27 million for Undav earlier this week, Hoeness is already on the hunt for a new man.
The club does not want to exceed the budget allowed for the Undav offer, but that does give plenty of scope.
One player on the radar is Czech striker Adam Hlozek, who struggled for game time at Bayer Leverkusen last term as Die Werkself romped to the title. At 22 years of age he has bags of potential and, able to play on the wing or through the middle as a No. 10, Hlozek would be a like for like replacement for Undav.
One other option might be Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug. The 31-year-old has blossomed in his career and was a standout star at Euro 2024 for Germany. But the arrival of Guirassy at the Signal Iduna Park may encourage him to consider a move.
It could be a difficult deal for VfB to progress, as reports in the UK press suggest the striker is being keenly pursued by West Ham United and a stint in the Premier League might be tempting.
The latest Bundesliga 2024 betting odds predict a fifth place finish for Die Schwaben, and that wouldn’t represent a collapse for last season’s runners-up, who did so well to live among the elite of the German top-flight. But Hoeness does still need to strengthen.
Can Stuttgart do it again? Time will tell, and the action starts very soon.
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