Juventus are advancing their interest in Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller, but face a potential new rival for his signature should Toni Kroos return to Real Madrid in a directorial role. According to Italian reports, the Bianconeri have identified the 23-year-old German international as a primary target to reinforce their midfield this summer and are positioned as frontrunners, with a club emissary potentially travelling to Germany this weekend to monitor him. Stiller's contract is understood to contain a release clause set at approximately 36.5 million euros, which Stuttgart could activate for a fee of 2 million euros to set the official asking price.
The pursuit, however, could be complicated by the influence of Kroos. The retired Real Madrid legend, who last year labelled Stiller as his ideal heir, is now being linked with a return to the Spanish club in a prominent technical role. It is believed Kroos could once again advocate for Madrid to sign Stiller, a move he previously recommended to president Florentino Perez. Juventus's current advantage is partly due to a lack of concrete competition from English clubs; Chelsea's search for a new manager has stalled their planning, while Manchester United, though interested, are concurrently pursuing other midfield options like Atalanta's Ederson and Brighton's Carlos Baleba.
Angelo Stiller has developed into a key metronome for Stuttgart since joining from Bayern Munich, earning a call-up to the German national team. His potential involvement in the upcoming World Cup adds urgency to Juventus's plans, as a strong performance on that stage would likely increase his valuation and attract more suitors. The Turin club therefore aims to move decisively in May, hoping to secure a deal before the tournament. Juventus's anticipated return to the Champions League is a factor in both their need for a player of Stiller's profile and their potential increased spending power.
The situation remains fluid, with Real Madrid's potential entry into the race dependent on Kroos's appointment. For now, Juventus are working to maintain their pole position, hoping that proactive negotiations with Stuttgart and the player's camp can fend off late competition. Securing Stiller would represent a significant coup for Juventus's midfield rebuild, providing a young, technically gifted player with growing international pedigree.
