VfB Stuttgart has had a disappointing start to the second half of the Bundesliga season. They suffered back-to-back defeats against Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfL Bochum, and a common factor in both losses was the absence of their star striker, Serhou Guirassy. Guirassy has been the main player to watch for Stuttgart this season, scoring an impressive 17 goals in the first 16 matches. Rumors of his potential departure have circulated since the beginning of the season, as a release clause in his contract became public knowledge. This clause allows him to leave Stuttgart for a modest fee of €20m in the summer transfer window, leaving the club with little leverage to prevent the move.
Guirassy’s career has been marked by ups and downs. He had a relatively unsuccessful spell at FC Cologne in the Bundesliga before rediscovering his form at Amiens in Ligue 1, where he scored nine goals in 23 league games in the 2019-20 season. Stuttgart paid around €9m to bring him to the club in 2022, a significant investment for a player with relatively few goals in the top divisions. Despite the initial doubts, Guirassy has proven himself to be a formidable striker and has attracted interest from clubs such as Manchester United, Newcastle United, and AC Milan.
It is almost certain that Guirassy will leave Stuttgart during the summer transfer window. The club will need to prepare for life without their star striker. However, Stuttgart has experience with losing key players, as they had to let go of Sasa Kalajdzic to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2022. The club is not in a financial position to compete with the best European clubs like Borussia Dortmund, so they are content with consolidating their finances and finding new prospects. After years of struggle, every minute spent above the relegation zone is cherished.
One of the main challenges for Stuttgart will be finding a competent replacement for Guirassy. During their defeat against Bochum, manager Sebastian Hoeness even had to deploy centre-back Dan-Axel Zagadou as a makeshift striker. While Zagadou had previous experience at Borussia Dortmund, he cannot be considered a long-term solution for Stuttgart. Their best hope for the No. 9 position lies in Deniz Undav, a loanee from Brighton & Hove Albion. Undav has occasionally played alongside Guirassy in a 4-4-2 formation. Although he has a different style to Guirassy, with more explosive runs behind the back line, he has shown promise and potential. His release clause of around €12m makes a permanent move to Stuttgart feasible.
One intriguing aspect of Stuttgart’s success this season is the contrast between Guirassy and their attacking midfielders and wingers. Guirassy provides a target presence in the box, while players like Chris Führich offer speed and dribbling skills. This change of pace poses difficulties for opposing defenses. Undav shares similarities with Stuttgart’s other attacking players in terms of speed and explosive runs, making him a viable replacement for Guirassy. Although he has not made a significant impact in the recent defeats, he is talented and has the potential to contribute goals to Stuttgart’s quest for European qualification.
As the transfer rumors swirl around Guirassy, it is important to remember that football is a business. Clubs must adapt to the departures of key players and find the next talented individual to fill their shoes. Stuttgart will need to identify new prospects and continue their financial consolidation to ensure long-term stability. While losing Guirassy will be a blow, it presents an opportunity for the club to discover the next suitable talent and continue their journey towards success in the Bundesliga.