Stuttgart Race to Secure Deniz Undav as World Cup Approaches

VfB Stuttgart are staring at a brutal reality: either they tie down Deniz Undav in the next few days, or they walk straight into the nightmare scenario of losing their star striker for nothing.

Talks over a new deal are at a delicate, decisive stage. If no agreement is struck before Undav heads off for the World Cup, negotiations will be “put on hold for the time being.” That pause is not cosmetic. It would effectively rule out any extension beyond 2027 this summer and open the door for the 27-year-old to control his own destiny from 1 January, when he becomes free to negotiate with other clubs.

For a player who has just delivered 25 goals and 14 assists in a standout season, that is a dangerous window for Stuttgart to leave ajar.

A club-record offer on the table

Stuttgart’s response has been clear: go big or risk losing the man who transformed their attack.

According to Bild, the hierarchy will submit a second, significantly improved offer before the weekend. Undav already rejected an initial three-year proposal, with an option to extend to 2030, at the start of May. The club has come back with something far more aggressive.

CEO Alexander Wehrle and sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth are driving the talks, and the supervisory board has reportedly given the green light to the new package. The offer is said to include a basic salary in the region of €5.5–6 million per year, up from around €4.5 million, plus a €3 million signing bonus. For VfB, that is uncharted territory: a club-record deal for a player they believe can anchor the project for years.

This is not just about rewarding past performances. It is about sending a message, both to the dressing room and the market, that Stuttgart intend to keep their best players rather than watch them walk away at their peak.

Undav settled, but the market is watching

Crucially for Stuttgart, Undav has not pushed for the exit. On the contrary, he has reportedly told the club’s leadership that he is open to a long-term future at VfB. He and his family feel at home in the city and at the club. The environment suits him; the football suits him even more.

Yet a season with 25 goals and 14 assists does not go unnoticed. Wealthier overseas clubs have taken note, and they can offer salaries and signing-on fees that would dwarf even Stuttgart’s record proposal. From January, they would also have the advantage of negotiating directly with the player without paying a transfer fee.

That is the tension at the heart of these talks. Stuttgart can offer status, stability and a team built around him. Others can offer the kind of money and global platform that test any player’s resolve.

Star man at club, super-sub for country

The contrast between Undav’s role in Stuttgart and his status with the national team only adds another layer to the story.

At club level, he is the main man, the reference point, the finisher and creator rolled into one. With Germany, he is pencilled in as a super-sub under Julian Nagelsmann. Kai Havertz remains the entrenched first-choice centre-forward, and in recent friendlies Undav even found himself behind Nick Woltemade in the pecking order, despite the Newcastle United striker’s struggles and far leaner goalscoring record.

Undav did what he always seems to do when questioned: he delivered. He proved decisive in the second friendly against Ghana, forcing his way into the conversation with his impact. After the match, despite Nagelsmann’s clear allocation of roles, the VfB forward openly voiced his hope of earning a starting spot.

The reaction from the national coach sparked a brief storm. Nagelsmann made remarks directed at Undav that raised eyebrows and drew criticism. He later apologised to the striker in person, and Undav has confirmed that their relationship remains intact. The episode, though, underlined just how fast his profile has grown. He is no longer a fringe figure happy just to be in the squad; he is pushing hard against the ceiling.

A decision with long shadows

All of that feeds back into the contract table in Stuttgart. A player who feels undervalued with the national team might lean into the security and appreciation he enjoys at VfB. A player who believes he is about to explode on the World Cup stage might be tempted to wait, let his stock rise even higher, and then pick from a queue of suitors in 2025.

Stuttgart are trying to close that gap now, before the tournament changes the landscape again.

They have made their move with a record offer, the board onside, and a clear message: build your prime years here. The next signature — or the lack of it — will say everything about where Deniz Undav sees the peak of his career: leading VfB’s charge, or testing himself on a bigger, richer stage.