VfB Stuttgart has to do without striker Ermed Demirovic “until further notice”. That hits the Swabians hard. What are the options of the DFB Cup winner in the attack?
Now that has happened, which should not have happened: Striker Ermedin Demirovic from VfB Stuttgart will be out for the time being. At the Bosnian was after 1-0 against 1. FC Heidenheim “A starting fracture of the foot root” diagnosed. While the association does not make an exact output for the output of the attacker, a research on the Internet shows that “at a starting fracture of the foot root (often stress fracture), the typical downtime for footballers 6 – 12 weeks, depending on the severity and treatment. It can take 3-6 months”.
After the departure of Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United) Shortly before the end of the transfer period and the injury to Deniz Undav, Demirovic was the only remaining center forward in the Stuttgart squad. He has always played since then and temporarily led the DFB Cup winner to the field as a captain. With the fracture, he may now have to pay the price for the high load. In any case, VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß has to see how he sets up his team in the attack.
Deniz Undav’s injury almost healed
Deniz Undav is now the most obvious solution in the Stuttgart storm. The 29-year-old injured himself In the 1-0 win of VfB against Borussia Mönchengladbach Since then. In the meantime he is back in team training, but not yet participates. For the away game in Wolfsburg (October 18, 3:30 p.m.) it should be enough – whether from the start or as a joker, you will see.
But one thing seems to be clear now: Undav, the workload that Demirovic has gone cannot be able to go. Seven games are waiting for VfB in 22 days – and the robustness of the Bosnier has and not. Therefore, there will probably be a kind of “job sharing” in the Swabian attack.
Tiago Tomás would change the statics of the game
The Tiago Tomás brought back from Wolfsburg can also play in the storm center. The Portuguese prefers to act with some space in front of it than “nine and a half”, that is, hanging tips, or comes across the outer lane, but it can also play in the front. Tomás would change the statics of the VfB game: the 23-year-old is considered technically strong and as a combination player. The team of coach Sebastian Hoeneß would probably play far less with flanks and high balls with him, since Tomás is a completely different type than Demirovic.
Further (need) candidates could be Jamie Leweling or the long injured Silas. However, both are more wingers who do not feel so comfortable in the center.
Is Mo Sankoh a candidate for the first team?
In the second team of the Stuttgart team in the 3rd league, Mo Sankoh still played a candidate with Mo Sankoh, who debut as a super talent in the Bundesliga in 2021, but to whom a horror injury made a spanner through the big career. Does the still 21-year-old get the chance to participate in the professionals of VfB? At VfB II, he has three goals and an assist after ten league games this season.
With Enis Redzepi, a youngster causes a sensation in the Stuttgart U19. In seven league games, the 17-year-old scored ten times and prepared another six goals. Does coach Hoeneß Redzepi also include in his mind games?
Is a contractless player coming?
Or do the VfB bosses around sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth even think of a currently without a contract as an immediate aid? Then there would be illustrious players on the market, such as the ex-Dortmund Paco Alcacer, former Mainz Robin Quaison, the former Ajax legend Hakim Ziyech and even a player with Stuttgart’s past: Chadrac Akolo. Or a solution with star appeal: Mario Balotelli.
The obligation of an additional player is probably unlikely. One thing is clear: the Demirovic failure hurts VfB Stuttgart immensely. Between October 18th. and 9.11. the Swabians have to play seven games, the opponents have it all. It goes against RB Leipzig, Fenerbahce Istanbul or Feyenoord Rotterdam.
Deniz Undav and Tiago Tomas are the most likely representatives for Demirovic. But who knows, maybe coach Hoeneß also gives youth a chance. In need, unconventional solutions are often required – that could be the chance for Sankoh, Redzepi and Co.
Prize on Monday, October 6, 2025 6:40 p.m., SWR1 Baden-Württemberg
