Having secured their place in the top flight with an excellent seventh-place finish, Die Schwaben have managed to keep hold of most of their top players. In looking to strengthen the squad, the policy has been to bring in a number of cheap buys. We take a look at the top three.
Pablo Maffeo (Manchester City, €9m)
VfB Stuttgart's biggest signing of the summer is Spanish Under-21 international Pablo Maffeo, from English Premier League side Manchester City.
Although had been on the books at the Etihad Stadium since 2015, the 21 year old has spent the last two seasons with Spanish side Girona FC. After helping the Blanquivermell to make the jump to the top flight in 2016/17, Maffeo established himself as a fixture in the side, helping them finish in a creditable tenth place in La Liga last season.
With a solid season in La Liga under his belt (47 matches in all competitions, with one goal) and four caps for the Spanish Under-21s, the fee of 9 million Euro for the promising right-back could prove to be a bargain for Tayfun Korkut's side.
Nicolás González (Argentinos Juniors, €8.5m)
Less well known is Argentinian striker Nicolás Iván González, who moves to south-western Germany from Argentinos Juniors for eight and a half million Euro. A product of Argentinos' youth development system, González is the latest in a long line of young South Americans to seek their fortune in the Bundesliga.
González has followed a career path similar to Pablo Maffeo. Juniors were promoted to the Argentine Primera División in 2016/17, before consolidating their place last season with an excellent mid-table finish. At just 20 years old, González quickly established himself the first team, netting seven goals in 24 top flight outings.
With a total return of eleven goals and one assist in 44 first and second division matches for El Bicho ("The Bug"), González' record is solid but not exactly spectacular. The Stuttgart scouts have clearly spotted a future talent, but at that price one has to say that it is a bit of a gamble.
Daniel Didavi (VfL Wolfsburg, €4m)
VfB have made a number of smaller signings, but our third pick is actually a returning face. A product of the club's youth academy, Daniel Didavi was at the Mercedes-Benz Arena for eight years before moving north to VfL Wolfsburg in 2016 on a free transfer.
Having given the player away, two years later Stuttgart have paid four million Euro to get him back. A fan favourite and former German Under-21 international, it will not take the attacking midfielder long to slot back in with his former team.
Despite not being a front man, the Nürtingen-born local boy has more than a decent record in front of goal. He scored 18 goals in 60 outings in his previous Stuttgart stint, before netting 13 in 48 for a Wolfsburg side that had spent most of the time battling relegation.
For more Bundesliga fun stuff, check out my Little Bundesliga Book project. Copies of the 2016 pocket book are still available, with the aim of raising funds for a new edition at the end of this season.
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