Stiller Back on United's Radar as Vivell Pushes Stuttgart Deal

Manchester United have dusted off their interest in Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller as they continue their hunt for midfield reinforcements ahead of the summer window.

The Red Devils remain in the market for two new midfielders to overhaul their central engine room. While Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson has long been their primary target, the pursuit of the England international appears increasingly complicated, with Manchester City reportedly in pole position to land the 25-year-old for a reported £65m.

That setback has prompted United to circle back on Stiller, the German international who caught their eye before penning a contract extension with Stuttgart in January 2025. Director of recruitment Christopher Vivell is leading the charge on the midfielder, having long been an admirer of the enforcer's credentials.

Stuttgart are prepared to offload Stiller this summer, with a valuation hovering around the £50m mark. However, there's room for negotiation – the Bundesliga outfit may be persuaded to part ways for a lower fee, potentially offering United a path to a more economical deal.

The situation is complicated by a £35m release clause buried within Stiller's current terms. Stuttgart, though, can activate a clause that allows them to pay the player £1.5m directly to nullify that exit option, meaning any transfer would need to be haggled over separately rather than simply triggering the buyout.

At 25, Stiller has established himself as one of the Bundesliga's premier defensive midfielders and could prove an ideal long-term successor to Casemiro in that holding role.

Elsewhere, United's pursuit of Anderson remains live despite City's apparent advantage. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed City are actively engaged with the player's representatives and have been working on the deal for months. However, he stressed that nothing has been formally settled, with no agreement reached on either personal terms or transfer fee.

"There is still nothing done or decided with any club," Romano explained, noting that Nottingham Forest and owner Evangelos Marinakis retain the power to shape negotiations with any suitor.

United, it appears, are keeping tabs on developments and remain ready to mount a challenge should circumstances shift. Alongside Anderson, Stiller, and other potential targets including Sandro Tonali, Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and Bruno Guimaraes, the club is casting a wide net across both the Premier League and Europe in search of value in the market.