Stuttgart's Urgent Bid to Retain Deniz Undav Amid World Cup Countdown

VfB Stuttgart are racing the calendar to keep Deniz Undav out of the shop window – and out of the clutches of richer clubs abroad.

If no agreement is in place before the striker heads off to the World Cup, negotiations will be “put on hold for the time being.” That pause would effectively kill any chance of extending his deal beyond 2027 this summer and open up a dangerous scenario for Stuttgart: from 1 January, the German international can talk freely to other clubs and, a year later, walk away on a free.

Stuttgart know exactly what is at stake. Bild reports that the hierarchy will submit a second, significantly improved offer before the weekend, after Undav rejected an initial three-year contract – with an option to run to 2030 – at the start of May.

This is no routine renewal. CEO Alexander Wehrle and sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth are personally driving the talks, armed with a package already cleared by the supervisory board. The new proposal would lift Undav’s basic salary to around €5.5–6 million per year, up from roughly €4.5 million, and add a €3 million signing-on fee. For VfB, it would be a record-breaking deal.

They have reasons to believe he might say yes. Undav has told the club’s decision-makers that he is open to a long-term future in Stuttgart. He and his family feel at home – in the dressing room, on the pitch, and in the city. The bond is real.

So is the market.

After a standout season of 25 goals and 14 assists, the 27-year-old has inevitably attracted interest from wealthier overseas clubs who can push beyond Bundesliga wage structures. Stuttgart’s offer is designed to test the limits of their own model without tearing it up completely.

While VfB treat him like a centrepiece, the national team still see him as a weapon off the bench. For Julian Nagelsmann, Kai Havertz remains the undisputed first-choice centre-forward heading into the World Cup. In recent friendlies, Undav even found himself behind Nick Woltemade in the pecking order, despite the Newcastle United forward’s struggles and a scoring record that does not come close to Undav’s numbers.

Undav responded the best way a striker can. He proved decisive in Germany’s second friendly against Ghana, forcing his way into the conversation with impact rather than complaint. After the game, he spoke publicly of his hope of earning a starting spot, pushing gently against the “super-sub” label Nagelsmann had assigned him.

The tension flickered into the open. The national coach followed up with remarks aimed at the VfB striker that raised eyebrows and drew criticism. Nagelsmann later apologised to Undav in person, and the forward has since confirmed that their relationship is intact.

So he waits. A key man at club level, a challenger in the national setup, and a forward whose next signature could define Stuttgart’s medium-term future.

The offer is on its way. The World Cup is coming. How long can VfB keep a striker whose value rises with every goal he scores for someone else?