Stuttgart's Urgent Bid to Retain Undav Before World Cup

VfB Stuttgart are staring at an uncomfortable countdown. Deniz Undav, the striker who powered their surge with 25 goals and 14 assists last season, is edging towards the World Cup with no new contract in place – and the club know exactly what that could mean.

If no agreement is signed before he joins up with the national team, negotiations will be put on ice. Not delayed. Stopped. That would all but kill off any chance of extending his deal beyond 2027 this summer and would open the door to a nightmare scenario for Stuttgart: from 1 January, the Germany international can talk freely to other clubs and walk away on a free transfer in 2027.

Stuttgart are not waiting passively. According to Bild, the hierarchy will put a second, significantly improved offer on the table before the weekend. The first proposal, a three‑year contract with an option to extend to 2030, landed in early May and was rejected.

Now CEO Alexander Wehrle and sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth have returned to the table with heavier artillery. The supervisory board has already signed off on the new package, described as a record-breaking offer for the club. The basic salary is said to jump from around €4.5 million to between €5.5m and €6m per year, topped up by a €3m signing-on fee.

For Stuttgart, it is a statement. For Undav, it is a reflection of his status as the face of their revival.

Crucially, the 27-year-old has not slammed the door. On the contrary, he has reportedly told club officials he can see himself at VfB for the long term. He and his family feel at home – in the dressing room, in the city, in the rhythm of a club that has been rebuilt around his goals.

The problem lies elsewhere. A season of those numbers does not go unnoticed. Wealthier clubs abroad have circled, attracted by a striker in his prime who scores, links play and carries himself with the confidence of a late bloomer making up for lost time. Stuttgart can offer him importance, affection and a leading role. Others can add the kind of wages and bonuses that stretch far beyond Swabian prudence.

And while he is the main man at VfB, his role with the national team tells a different story.

For Julian Nagelsmann, Undav is currently pencilled in as a super‑sub. Kai Havertz remains the undisputed first-choice centre-forward, and in recent friendlies Undav even found himself behind Nick Woltemade in the pecking order – despite Woltemade’s struggles at Newcastle United and a record that does not come close to Undav’s productivity.

Undav did what he always seems to do when doubted: he made an impact. In the second friendly against Ghana, he proved decisive, forcing his way into the conversation with another influential display. Afterward, despite Nagelsmann’s clear hierarchy, the VfB striker did not hide his ambition and spoke openly about his hope of starting.

That honesty sparked friction. Nagelsmann responded with remarks that were widely viewed as pointed and unnecessary, aimed squarely at Undav. The reaction raised eyebrows, not least because the forward’s form has earned him the right to dream bigger.

The tension did not linger. The national coach later apologised to Undav in person. The striker has since confirmed that their relationship is intact, a useful truce at a moment when his career is poised between club loyalty, international opportunity and the lure of a major contract elsewhere.

So Stuttgart push on with their offer, fully aware of the stakes. Secure Undav now, and they lock in a prolific No. 9 for his prime years and protect his market value. Miss this window, and the World Cup could turn their talisman into an even more expensive – or even unattainable – asset.

The ball is at Undav’s feet. The question is whether he chooses the security and status of Stuttgart, or waits to see what the wider world, and a World Cup, might bring.