VfB Stuttgart wants to reduce transfer dependency – Guirassy should stay

Club boss Wehrle on financial plans

Around 38 million euros in the current season and 26 million in 2021/22: VfB Stuttgart has generated a whopping transfer plus in the past two years, but has given up a lot of sporting quality – due to economic pressure. In the future, the current table-17. the Bundesliga will definitely change this. In an interview with “Sky”, CEO Alexander Wehrle emphasized: “We have to strengthen the equity situation (…) so that we get more substance in terms of sporting competitiveness, so that we don’t have to give up several top performers every year.”

The 48-year-old named the sale of shares to strategic partners as possible instruments so-called participation rights. The Swabians are in talks with interested parties, said Wehrle, and there are also “trustworthy and constructive” negotiations with the Mercedes-Benz Bank as shirt sponsor about an extension of the expiring contract: “This is a long-standing partner and anchor investor. We have been in talks for several months about how and in what constellation we want to continue this contractual relationship. But the very clear signal from Mercedes is that they definitely want to stay with us.”

With a view to the coming season, Wehrle said that VfB top scorer Serhou Guirassy (26) would like to sign permanently from Stade Rennes. The purchase option for the six-goal striker, who is currently out due to an adductor injury, is reportedly €9m. “We can afford a signing from Serhou. (…) In the end it’s about the player being able to imagine staying at VfB. Everyone saw that his performances made him fit into the team,” said Wehrle. “Everyone saw that this was a good transfer. We are certainly also working intensively on the future of Serhou.”

VfB Stuttgart’s Wehrle on Labbadia: “Force momentum & score points”

In the meantime, Wehrle is not concerned that Bruno Labbadia’s haul of points is not yet right. “Five games, two points is not enough, no question. But you still have to look at the games as a whole. There are good approaches, the team acts as a team and is very stable defensively. But she doesn’t reward herself. The momentum is not on our side. I have no doubts that we will force the momentum and take the points,” he said.

Wehrle cannot understand that there are already external discussions about Labbadia, who returned in December: “We have very good individual players. Now it’s time to make a team out of it. Bruno is on the right track there. The only thing – and that’s what football is about – is that the results don’t add up. (…) Football is a result sport, no question about it. Nevertheless, one should accept the situation as it is. We still have 14 games to play.”

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