Barcelona manager likes 23-year-old Bundesliga midfielder, will cost at least €25 million

Bayer Leverkusen have stolen all the limelight in the Bundesliga this past season and for good reason. Die Werkself, after all, has put an end to Bayern Munich’s dominance in German football by sealing the league title.

However, another emerging story from this Bundesliga campaign was the rise of VfB Stuttgart. The Sleeping Giants have remarkably finished second in the league under the leadership of Sebastian Hoeness.

One of the protagonists behind Stuttgart’s remarkable campaign was Angelo Stiller, the youngster who has established himself as one of Germany’s most promising midfielders.

Hansi Flick interested in Angelo Stiller

Aged just 23, Angelo Stiller’s rapid rise to prominence has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona among the clubs emerging as a potential destination.

That is according to Diario SPORT, which suggests newly-appointed Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is ‘seduced’ by the idea of signing Stiller in the coming summer.

Formerly a product of the Bayern Munich youth academy, Stiller has worked with Flick in the past. In fact, it was Flick who gave Stiller his Champions League debut during their time together in Bavaria.

Stiller has worked with Flick in the past (Photo by RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images)

Both have come a long way since, but for Flick, Stiller has emerged as an ideal candidate to solve Barcelona’s woes in the defensive midfield slot.

Can Barcelona sign Stiller?

Following an exceptional season in the Bundesliga, Stiller won’t come for cheap and could cost a fortune this summer.

The report points to a figure of around €25 million, which is reasonable considering the fact that the player has a contract at Stuttgart until 2027.

Stiller joined Stuttgart for a fee of just €5.5 million, but his value has multiplied since and for good reason.

Flick believes the German starlet could be the ideal link between defence and attack at Barcelona. However, whether or not the Catalans can sign Stiller would depend on how the club navigate their delicate economic situation.

Stiller, of course, is not the only option for Barcelona in their bid to beef up their midfield options. The club have also been linked with a move for former Borussia Dortmund starlet Mikel Merino, although the Spaniard won’t come cheap either.