Coach Hoeneß praises

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VfB Stuttgart are “certainly prepared to go to extremes” to recruit Deniz Undav (27), previously on loan from Brighton, next summer. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß underlined this on Thursday during the press conference before the match against bottom team SV Darmstadt 98 (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.). Negotiations are said to be ongoing, but recent media reports have indicated that the purchase option is expected to reach 20 million euros.

“At the end of the day, it’s a business,” Hoeneß continues, “but emotions and passion are also part of it. That’s why I have great hope that things can continue with him. » First injured and in the shadow of Serhou Guirassy (27), Undav is now one of the best players in VfB. With the Guinean , he forms the second best goalscoring duo in the Bundesliga behind Bayern’s Harry Kane (30) and Leroy Sané (28) with 31 combined goals.

“It’s impressive the way he presents himself in the Bundesliga. He does special things on the field, but he is also very cool and positive off the field. “He is not a normal guy in the best sense of the word, he is a mark for VfB,” Hoeneß said enthusiastically and full of praise. Undav is tied to Brighton until 2026. Last summer’s loan move « proved absolutely right, » Hoeneß continued.

With his 20 scorers in 21 matches, Undav has long been the center of attention of national coach Julian Nagelsmann; an appointment in the DFB squad for the tough tests against France (March 23) and the Netherlands (March 26) is almost certain. Hoeneß doesn’t expect international appearances to go to Undav’s head. The attacker “was a bird from the beginning, he is still a bird today in the best sense of the word. I don’t see any danger that he will start to fly too much like a bird,” the VfB coach explained with a smile.

VfB Stuttgart still without Nübel – Hoeneß warns against Darmstadt

VfB Stuttgart will have to do without their regular goalkeeper Alexander Nübel for the moment. The 27-year-old will also be absent against Darmstadt due to hip problems, Hoeneß confirmed. The coach added that he could not give an exact prediction on how long Nübel’s absence would last. The goalkeeper could again be an option for the match against 1. FC Köln on February 24.

Nübel had already missed third place last Sunday against Mainz 05 (3:1). Just like against FSV, Fabian Bredlow (28) should also represent him on Saturday. In Darmstadt, the VfB is also missing defender Anthony Rouault (22), operated on Monday due to a broken nose.

He expected an “unpleasant match,” Hoeneß said. At least the relegation place is still “absolutely in sight” for the Darmstadt team, who have now won 14 league matches, he explained. The Lilies are four points from 16th place before the 22nd day. “They will do everything they can to make life difficult for us,” the VfB coach is certain. “They don’t give up.”

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