Chelsea has identified a Stuttgart midfielder who fits very well into the club’s system, which is why they will look to sign him during the summer transfer window.
While speculation surrounds Fernandez’s future at Stamford Bridge, Stiller stands out for his tactical discipline and long passing, qualities that are ideal for the Premier League. Since arriving in Stuttgart, his value has increased, and he has already established himself in the German national team.
Stuttgart is aware of the growing interest in its star player and, according to reports, has set an internal price of about £43 million for the attacking midfielder. Although the German club prefers to keep its squad, the economic appeal of the Premier League could be hard to ignore.
He is not the only English club interested: Manchester United tried to sign him last summer, which reflects the high demand. A move to London would allow him to double his annual salary of €4.5 million.
Despite the economic appeal of a possible record sale, Stuttgart’s coach, Sebastian Hoeness, wants to keep the squad intact. After several key departures, retaining Stiller is a priority.
At the beginning of winter, he stated, “If you want to fight for international competitions, you must keep your best players. VFB is not done growing yet; if I thought otherwise, I would not have renewed my contract in March.”
The timing of any deal remains complicated because of the upcoming World Cup, which will likely delay major signings until the final weeks of the summer transfer window. Additionally, Stuttgart’s final league position and its qualification for European competitions will be key factors for Stiller in deciding whether to change teams to advance his career.
On the other hand, if Chelsea wants to attract players, whether Stiller or anyone else, it must start prioritizing its Champions League qualification. Clearly, the financial aspect is important, offering a competitive salary is often key, but the fact that players know they will be joining a club that participates in the most important club competition is key.
The Blues must prioritize finishing among the top five places this season, no matter what. They are currently in sixth place, which means they would play in the Europa League next season (or the Conference League if the Premier League had not received an extra Champions League spot). And it is clear that for a club of Chelsea’s stature, the Europa League is not enough.
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