VfB Stuttgart's season has started poorly, and the pressure on the club is building. Three points from four Bundesliga games leaves them 15th in the table, a result that falls well short of what is expected from a Champions League participant. The latest setback was a 1-0 home defeat to Borussia Dortmund, a result that extended their winless run in the league and underlined a lack of cutting edge going forward.

At the heart of Stuttgart's struggles is captain Deniz Undav. The striker, who finished last season as Germany's top scorer with 25 goals and 14 assists, has zero goals and zero assists in the Bundesliga this term. His form cost him a place in Jürgen Klopp's first Germany squad, with the new head coach citing Undav's performances in the two matches he watched as the reason for the omission. Speaking to Sky after the Dortmund defeat, Undav was candid about the setback, saying he must prove himself again and is targeting a recall in November.

Amid the gloom, one genuine bright spot has emerged. Defender Finn Jeltsch, 20, has started all six competitive fixtures this season and earned his first call-up to the Germany squad for the Nations League matches against Serbia and Greece. His performances have attracted reported interest from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Liverpool, though no formal offers have been received. Stuttgart hold him on a contract until 2030, giving them strong negotiating leverage should that interest firm up.