The late departure of Nick Woltemade last early summer is still having an impact. Stuttgart is preparing for a similar scenario and is on the verge of signing Feyenoord’s young star Leo Sauer.
What happens if it happens? If, like last year, a key player leaves the club at the very last minute? Just like Nick Woltemade, who—at his own urgent request—turned his back on Stuttgart and headed to Newcastle United for an impossible-to-ignore 75 million euros shortly before the transfer window closed. The attempt to fill the gap left by the star national team player back then went awry. The club is determined to prevent a similar scenario this summer.
Leweling and El Khannouss Are in Demand
Stuttgart makes no secret of the fact that they could face tempting rivals and players eager to move right up until the last day of this year’s transfer window. A more than expected scenario. Above all, Bilal El Khannouss and Jamie Leweling are considered potential targets for clubs looking to strengthen their squads, both domestically and abroad.
Accordingly, a versatile attacking player has been on the Swabians’ wish list for quite some time. And at the very top of that list: Leo Sauer. The Feyenoord Rotterdam attacker, who can play on both wings as well as behind the striker, has long caught the eye of the historic club from the Neckar. However, VfB was never alone in this pursuit: TSG Hoffenheim was also in close contact with the 20-year-old youth national team player. A neck-and-neck race developed between the two Bundesliga neighbors, one that the Swabians now apparently see entering the home stretch.
Sauer is considered one of Slovakia’s top talents
A transfer fee of around 13 million euros is being discussed for the versatile attacker, who is under contract in the Netherlands through the end of June 2028 and is regarded as technically skilled, fast, and a strong dribbler. He’s a playmaker with a reliable passing game and an eye for the right spaces, which allows him to find gaps in opposing defenses. However, he still occasionally lacks the necessary physicality and, given his youth, the consistency that’s in high demand.
Hoffenheim Has Its Eye on Daghim
Hoffenheim will be able to cope with this, especially since, in addition to Sauer, they have also expressed interest in the young Danish national team player Adam Daghim (20) from RB Salzburg. His playing style is similar to that of the Slovakian.
