VFB suffers a tough defeat in the Supercup showdown
VfB Stuttgart has dealt a significant blow to Bayern Munich's transfer plans for striker Nick Woltemade, rejecting the Bavarian giants' latest €60 million bid. Stuttgart insists on a minimum fee of €75 million for the in-demand player, a demand that Bayern has yet to meet[1][2].
Negotiations between the two clubs have been intense, with high-level video calls between executives discussing potential deals. Bayern even proposed that Woltemade forgo part of his salary to facilitate the move, but Stuttgart remains firm on their valuation[1].
Coach Sebastian Hoeness has confirmed that Woltemade will play a central role at Stuttgart this season, despite the transfer speculation[1]. Woltemade's agent, however, has expressed frustration with Stuttgart's position, arguing that the conditions demanded, including a generous resale clause and the €60 million+ offer, contradict prior agreements and labeling the club’s recent demands as unreasonable and unfounded[2][3].
The transfer saga has been ongoing since the initial €40 million plus add-ons offer from Bayern, with reports indicating that a 50-million-euro offer was not enough for VfB Stuttgart to consider serious negotiations[1]. As a result, it appears that the transfer "almost certainly" will not happen this summer as Bayern appear reluctant to increase their offer to Stuttgart's demanded €75 million, causing Bayern to turn their focus elsewhere[4].
On the pitch, Woltemade's impact was evident, despite missing two big chances during the game against FC Bologna (17th/67th) and an offside goal scored against FC Bologna (56th). The joy of playing, seen in the 6:0 win against FC Toulouse a week ago, only reappeared in the second half against FC Bologna. However, Stuttgart looked particularly weak in the first half due to tough training sessions[5].
In the end, it was Martin Vitik who scored the only goal for FC Bologna from a corner kick that Woltemade inadvertently headed (32nd), resulting in a 0:1 (0:1) loss for Stuttgart in a dress rehearsal a week before the Supercup[6].
As the transfer window closes, the future of Woltemade at VfB Stuttgart remains uncertain. The club's firm stance on his value and Bayern's reluctance to increase their offer suggest that a move to the Allianz Arena may have to wait.
[1] [Source 1] [2] [Source 2] [3] [Source 3] [4] [Source 4] [5] [Source 5] [6] [Source 6]
Despite Bayern Munich's efforts to acquire striker Nick Woltemade, negotiations with VfB Stuttgart have been unsuccessful due to Stuttgart's insistence on a €75 million fee. This impasse in European football's transfer market has left Woltemade's future at Stuttgart uncertain.
