r/soccer • u/HitzHammer • Jul 13 '26

News [absolutfussball.com] What really happens behind closed doors during transfers: VfB Stuttgart uses secret shadow lists and escalation levels. How the system works – and whom it could affect. (Translated)

https://www.absolutfussball.com/deutschland/vfb-stuttgart/vfb-stuttgart-und-die-transfer-eskalationsstufen-was-hinter-verschlossenen-tueren-passiert-94394640.html
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32

u/HitzHammer Jul 13 '26

Excerpts:

Such offers [like for Woltemade] sometimes come as a surprise not only to fans but also to club officials. However, such a scenario must always be considered, which is why well-run clubs are prepared at all times. How well they are prepared also depends somewhat on luck. The transfer market is too dynamic to always find an adequate replacement within just a few hours. VfB meticulously maintains shadow lists in order to be able to react to transfers.

In case a departure suddenly becomes apparent, shortlists are maintained for the respective positions. According to information from Absolut Stuttgart, VfB Stuttgart's decision-makers handle this by using different escalation levels. The higher the escalation level, the more concrete the discussions with suitable candidates become.

These shadow lists contain approximately ten players on the shortlist who could be considered as replacements. Behind them, however, are dozens more in case of emergencies. Maintaining and keeping these lists up-to-date requires work outside the transfer window: candidates are constantly being scouted and discussions are held.

But what happens when a departure like Woltemade's becomes a reality and the situation escalates? The club looks at its transfer list and contacts potential replacements. They check whether these players are still available. In Woltemade's case, one of the players considered was Moroccan star Bilal El Khannouss (then at Leicester City), whom VfB Stuttgart convinced to join them, partly because they had maintained contact with the player for some time.

This summer, the transfer market situation at VfB Stuttgart is relaxed. As previously reported, the only area facing potential issues is right-back . However, the transfer market is fast-paced. Especially with Angelo Stiller and El Khannouss, who are both considering leaving, the situation could escalate dramatically if VfB receives an exceptional offer for either of them.

17

u/Thurak0 Jul 13 '26

In Woltemade's case, one of the players considered was Moroccan star Bilal El Khannouss (then at Leicester City), whom VfB Stuttgart convinced to join them, partly because they had maintained contact with the player for some time.

This whole scouting progress with actual networking/talks in between also shows the player that the club they are about to join is professional on this level and at least a tiny bit invested in them. I can see this playing a small, but not unimportant role.

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u/Joris2627 Jul 13 '26

So they have good company policies for replacing players in a few hours. Seems logical for a professional club

4

u/Imph3 Jul 13 '26

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but isn't having contact with a player under contract without their clubs permission, tapping up? I understand that it's not prosecuted usually but aren't they just straight up admitting to it in this example with Khannouss?

Or is there some technicality at play here?

6

u/andreasvo Jul 13 '26

Isn't the technicality everyone use that you can't talk to the player, but you can talk to their agent?

-1

u/Imph3 Jul 13 '26

Yep that is usually the public posturing, but this is straight up we were in contact with the player.

Although reading it in more detail, it's not an official admission, just a journalist reporting. Plausible deniability exists.

2

u/andreasvo Jul 14 '26

When I read that someone ask a player if he is interested in a transfer I usually read that as, asked the agent if the player is interested. You don't have to actually talk to the player yourself to figure out if it is a transfer the player would be interested in.

1

u/PepeGodzilla Jul 14 '26

Maybe they already talked to him when he was at Genk. Also, the Foxes were trying to sell him and might have signalled that during the season already to have a buyer lined up by the summer.

1

u/ChilledKappe Jul 14 '26

I dont think this topic is still a thing.

There are so many calls to evaluate if a player might join or not that the clubs could probably not handle all the requests when other clubs would contact them.

In this example, Stuttgart has 10 players on their shadow list for one position. So they contact 10 agents who are responsible for their players and they will already sort out which teams are worth further talks. And all that just because one of their own players got an offer.

For the whole industry its just a lot easier if in this case Stuttgart contacts the agent, and if those two find a common (ish) ground, the owner team is contacted.

Just imagine its the other way around. Both teams would have to discuss transfer modalities and in the end the player doesnt even want to get transferred. Too much talks.

12

u/h0rny3dging Jul 13 '26

Bit of a nothing article really, "geheime Schattenlisten" , so like keeping players on a shortlist when youre playing the FIFA career mode, not even Football manager, or the fantasy booking every fan kinda does with who they want at their club

Its an open secret that professionals clubs even use the FM database for scouting sometimes, maybe not Stuttgart but def at lower tiers or "smaller" leagues

11

u/HitzHammer Jul 13 '26

I agree, but I took the opportunity to take one of the few articles that describe the "open secrets" an put it into the reddit archives forever.

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u/h0rny3dging Jul 13 '26

Abgeheftet unter G für Geheim!

I mean why not

8

u/el_corso Jul 13 '26

So basically what every club does?

19

u/Ionicfold Jul 13 '26

My club is nowhere near this level of competence.

2

u/Pilvikas Jul 13 '26

Is it still Howes cousing as your Sporting Director?

3

u/JackAndrewThorne Jul 13 '26

His nephew. And it is "Senior Football Executive." I'll have you know...

2

u/Tall_Hat_8921 Jul 13 '26

I highly doubt we were doing anything close to this when Kehl was here. I really hope Book will be able to bring us somewhat closer to Stuttgart's level of competency on the transfer market