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Manchester United have been urged to act swiftly if they wish to secure the services of Angelo Stiller, with reports from Germany warning that any delay could make signing the VfB Stuttgart midfield maestro far more complicated.

Since joining Stuttgart in 2023, Stiller has developed into one of the Bundesliga’s most accomplished deep-lying playmakers. His performances have caught the attention of several elite European clubs. Alongside Manchester United, Premier League rivals Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle United are closely monitoring him, while Serie A powerhouse Juventus have also entered the race for his signature.

The 25-year-old midfielder has been a long-term target for United. Both sporting director Jason Wilcox and recruitment expert Christopher Vivell are said to hold the German international in high regard.

United are currently undergoing a major overhaul of their midfield this summer, having already completed transfers for Chelsea’s energetic midfielder Andrey Santos and Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans.

The club’s management remains determined to add a third midfield recruit to Michael Carrick’s squad, particularly after the major setback of Manuel Ugarte’s serious knee injury. The 25-year-old Uruguayan is expected to miss most, if not all, of the upcoming season.

However, if United are serious about landing Stiller, they must act immediately. His current release clause is set to expire by the end of today, which would significantly raise his transfer fee from tomorrow onwards. Should that happen, United’s chances of bringing him to Old Trafford would diminish sharply, making this a now-or-never scenario.

Nicknamed Stuttgart’s “Mr Indispensable”, Stiller played a crucial role in helping his side clinch Champions League qualification on the final day of last season, finishing fourth in the Bundesliga – just one point ahead of Hoffenheim.

This achievement has strengthened Die Schwaben’s stance in retaining the Munich-born midfielder. Stiller himself is keen to test his skills at the highest level in Europe. However, a clause in his contract currently allows potential buyers to sign him for £31 million – but only until the end of today.

According to German outlet Sport Bild, as reported by Sport Witness, that release clause expires on 15 July. Once it lapses, Stuttgart will be free to demand any transfer fee they wish.

The Bundesliga side also has the option to “buy out” the clause for £3 million, though this has not yet been exercised. This provides a very short window for United to activate the clause and secure Stiller for a relatively modest fee, especially when compared with other targets such as Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha, who is valued at over £100 million.

Sport Bild further reports that United sent scouts multiple times to Germany last season to assess Stiller in person, reinforcing the club’s strong interest from the M16 headquarters.

If Manchester United intend to lure Stiller away from the MHPArena, they must complete the deal before the end of the day. The midfielder represents exceptional value in the current market, and even if he were to struggle initially in the Premier League, his transfer fee could still yield a profit in the future.

However, United’s recent acquisition of Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa – a player with a somewhat similar skill set to Stiller – might have reduced the urgency of the move. The club is now believed to be focusing on signing a marquee No.6 to replace Casemiro as the final component of their midfield rebuild, with other targets reportedly taking precedence at this stage of the transfer window.

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