VfB Stuttgart is keen on securing their prolific striker Deniz Undav for the long term, but not without careful consideration of financial implications.
“We understand his value and appreciate his outstanding goal-scoring record. He’s a great person, and I personally like him very much, so naturally, we hope to reach an agreement. However, ultimately, we have a collective responsibility to ensure any deal fits within our financial framework,” stated CEO Alexander Wehrle during a Sky interview.
Undav leads the Bundesliga with 18 goals and his current contract with the Swabians is set to expire in 2027. He is reportedly already the club’s highest earner, with an annual salary of €4.5 million.
Following the current season, VfB plans to intensify discussions with the 29-year-old forward. Wehrle emphasized that Undav is aware of his significance to VfB and the club’s appreciation for him.
VfB Stuttgart Eyes Undav Extension, But With Financial Restraint
Sebastian Hoeneß’s team is heading towards the DFB-Pokal final against FC Bayern and has a strong chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
“Certainly, reaching the Champions League would provide us with more flexibility, without a doubt. However, we also have salary costs that we must manage. We have structured our contracts to include provisions for Bundesliga, Europa League, and Champions League salaries,” Wehrle explained. He added, “If we plan with the additional revenue from the Champions League, we will do so responsibly. We will not do anything crazy.”
Despite these considerations, the club chief indicated that VfB is in a robust financial position. “We have gained stability and built equity. We started with €4 million and by the end of the last fiscal year, we had over €60 million. We achieved the highest result in the club’s history in 2024, and we expect to surpass that again in 2025.”