Intense Poker Showdown: Hoeneß vs Matthäus
In the world of German football, the transfer saga surrounding Nick Woltemade has been making headlines. The striker, who was the top scorer at the U21 European Championship that ended over the weekend, currently plays for VfB Stuttgart but has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich.
However, the negotiations between the two clubs are currently at a standstill. Stuttgart CEO Alexander Wehrle and sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth have both stated that Woltemade will stay at Stuttgart for the upcoming season and that there are no ongoing negotiations with Bayern Munich as of mid to late July 2025.
Stuttgart have rejected Bayern’s bids, including an offer of €40 million plus €5 million in add-ons and a later bid of €55 million. Stuttgart reportedly want closer to €80 million for Woltemade, which Bayern have not yet matched. The Bavarian club may soon set a deadline around the DFL-Supercup on August 16 to force a decision, as Stuttgart also need time to find a replacement if Woltemade leaves.
Prominent Bayern figures, Uli Hoeneß and Lothar Matthäus, have expressed skepticism about the cost of Woltemade. While direct quotes about Woltemade’s fee were not found, general reporting around this transfer highlights a debate over Bayern needing to increase their offer significantly to meet Stuttgart’s demands, implying that Hoeneß and Matthäus perceive the current asking price as high and possibly inflated.
Matthäus, a German record national player, has sharply countered Hoeneß's criticism. He believes that a transfer fee of 60 million euros for Woltemade is too low. Matthäus thinks that Hoeneß is attempting to distract from his own mistakes by attacking others.
Interestingly, Matthäus previously correctly estimated the total volume of the transfer of Florian Wirtz, who recently transferred from Bayer Leverkusen to FC Liverpool in England. This has added fuel to the debate, with Matthäus stating that Hoeneß lives in his own world and hasn't understood that not only football but also the business has evolved.
Woltemade's contract with VfB Stuttgart runs until June 30, 2028, and does not contain a release clause. As the deadline for a decision approaches, the future of the striker remains uncertain.
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Nick Woltemade, the U21 European Championship top scorer, is currently linked with a move from VfB Stuttgart to Bayern Munich, despite the ongoing debate about his transfer fee. The skepticism about the cost of Woltemade has been expressed by Bayern figures, such as Uli Hoeneß, but Lothar Matthäus, another prominent figure, believes a transfer fee of 60 million euros for Woltemade is too low, adding fuel to the debate.
