Galatasaray are advancing their pursuit of Ermedin Demirović despite seeing an initial €15 million bid rejected by VfB Stuttgart. According to Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, negotiations between the Süper Lig champions and the Bundesliga club are progressing well, with an agreement now considered close.
The 26-year-old Bosnian striker joined Stuttgart only last summer from FC Augsburg in a deal worth €23 million. That substantial fee suggests the German club will seek to recoup most of their investment before sanctioning his departure just twelve months into his contract.
Squad reshuffle
Stuttgart have already begun restructuring their attacking options during this window. They recently sold forward Jovan Milošević to Portuguese side SC Braga for €8 million and secured Dzenan Pejčinović from VfL Wolfsburg as additional cover. However, losing Demirović would still represent a significant blow to manager Sebastian Hoeneß’s squad depth.
Galatasaray view the centre-forward as a priority addition as they prepare to defend their domestic title while competing in European competition. The Turkish club are currently awaiting Stuttgart’s response to their latest proposal after the opening €15 million offer was deemed insufficient.
What happens next
The potential transfer highlights the growing financial muscle of Turkish clubs, who are increasingly able to attract established Bundesliga talent. Stuttgart must now decide whether to cash in on a player who featured regularly last season, or risk retaining an unsettled squad member as the new campaign approaches.
The coming days are likely to prove decisive as Galatasaray push to complete the deal before the transfer window closes.