Bayern Munich, Liverpool & Man Utd learn asking price for Angelo Stiller | OneFootball

The major European clubs interested in Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller face having to pay considerably more than a release clause in his current contract.

Stiller has emerged as the potential successor to the now retired Toni Kroos, thriving in the Bundesliga last season following a move from Hoffenheim to Stuttgart.

The club finished second in the standings, their highest placing since winning the league in 2006/07, and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 15 years.

Stiller's role in that success has understandably caught the attention of bigger clubs, including domestic giants Bayern Munich, as well as Manchester United and Liverpool.

Sky Sport Germany's Florian Plettenberg has revealed that a €40m (£33.5m) release clause, active from the summer of 2026, exists in the 23-year-old's contract. But the promise of landing an up and coming talent for an affordable fixed price is more complicated than it seems at first glance.

Stuttgart are believed to hold a contractual right to buy that release clause out of the contract for a sum of €2m, a measure that protects the club now that Stiller's market value has exceeded the fixed price of the clause. It means for just a €2m outlay, they could set an asking price much higher.

The release clause, therefore, is rendered somewhat pointless and it will require any interested clubs to formally negotiate a transfer fee with Stuttgart if they wish to sign the player.

Stuttgart generally seem confident that Stiller will remain with the club next season anyway.

"That is not an issue that is currently on our agenda," chief executive Fabian Wohlgemuth told BILD this week. "The player has committed himself to VfB without any ifs and buts and we know exactly what we have in Angelo. And that is exactly the end of the matter."