Clubs already agreed
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VfB Stuttgart almost had an exit in the last few meters of the transfer window. According to Sky, Mirza Catovic was about to move to Red Bull Salzburg and there was an agreement between the clubs. Ultimately, the deal failed because the German Bundesliga club’s approval did not come in time to complete everything on deadline day in Austria.
For the 18-year-old midfielder, the chance of more playing time at a high level is gone. So far, Catovic has only been used in the second team for the Swabians, but increased his market value there to 1.5 million euros. The transfer fee that the clubs had already agreed on was actually quite a bit higher. 3 million euros would have flowed into VfB’s coffers, which in turn would have had a buyback option of 12 million euros.
Salzburg had already used Germany several times this season. Frans Krätzig (FC Bayern), Anrie Chase (VfB Stuttgart), Kerim Alajbegovic (Bayer 04) and Stefan Lainer (Gladbach) arrived in the summer, followed in the winter by Tim Drexler from TSG Hoffenheim.
