Stuttgart Boss Confirms Search for 'Quality' Defender Ahead of Supercup Clash

VfB Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeneß has confirmed that his squad is still looking to bolster its defensive ranks ahead of the upcoming Supercup clash with Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

With the summer transfer window drawing to a close in just over two weeks, Hoeneß acknowledged the need for further reinforcements in central defence. The Swabians lost both captain Waldemar Anton and stalwart Hiroki Ito during the off-season, and despite the arrivals of Jeff Chabot, Leonidas Stergiou, Ramon Hendriks, and Anthony Rouault, Hoeneß believes more quality is needed.

"The search is still in full swing to bring in an absolute quality player," Hoeneß declared at a press conference on Thursday. "There's no question that we're looking for and need quality players in defence. We are not yet complete. We're not yet finalised."

While new signing Yannik Keitel can also operate in central defence, his performances in that position for Freiburg last season were unconvincing. Moreover, with a bloated squad of 34 players - exceeding the typical roster size of around 30 for German clubs - Hoeneß stressed the importance of bringing in players of the calibre of Anton and Ito, while also potentially releasing players to trim the squad.

Despite the defensive concerns, Hoeneß conveyed a positive outlook after a successful pre-season camp that saw his team go unbeaten in six friendlies. The manager expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to compete for silverware right at the start of the season, highlighting the significance of the Supercup match against Leverkusen.

However, when quizzed about his starting line-up for the Supercup, Hoeneß remained tight-lipped, refusing to commit to either Ermedin Demirovic or Deniz Undav as his starting striker.

"Anything is possible in life," he said with a grin, when asked about the possibility of fielding the two newly-signed forwards together. "In any event, they'll both be in the stadium."

The Supercup match on Saturday presents a significant test for Stuttgart as they look to kick off the season on a positive note. With the transfer window still open, Hoeneß's search for a quality defender continues, but he remains optimistic about his team's chances of success in the upcoming campaign.