Finn Jeltsch: Stuttgart would only sell Man United target on one condition

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Manchester United secured their first clean sheet of the season in the 4-0 win over Sabah in the Champions League on Thursday, 10 September, at Old Trafford. The Red Devils’ defensive issues have been laid bare this season in the Premier League, where they have conceded two goals in all three games so far.

The English giants refrained from bolstering their backline over the summer, but may have to revisit the position in 2027. Harry Maguire is already on the wrong side of 30, while Matthijs de Ligt has been sidelined for around nine months with a back injury.

Lisandro Martinez has entered the final year of his contract, and his fitness woes have been well documented. A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person states that United have their eyes on VfB Stuttgart defender Finn Jeltsch to address the situation. An update on the saga has now emerged.

United interested in Finn Jeltsch

According to TuttoJuve, Juventus have stepped up their pursuit of Jeltsch. The report states: “One of the names to have caught Juventus’s attention is reportedly Finn Jeltsch, a young centre-back at Stuttgart; the German centre-back is said to be being tracked by numerous major European clubs, including Juventus.”

“The competition is, however, fierce: Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are all said to have set their sights on the player.”

The report insists that there have been no negotiations for the German defender yet, adding: “For Juventus, this would, at least for the moment, mainly involve keeping an eye on the player; there are no reports of advanced negotiations, nor are there any indications that an offer has already been made to Stuttgart.”

Jeltsch rose through the ranks at FC Nurnberg before moving to Stuttgart in the summer of 2025. The 20 year old has since become a first-team regular for Die Roten, and is under contract until 2030.

Winter move unlikely

While the player’s stock continues to soar, Stuttgart have no desire to allow the player to leave and are likely to demand a sizeable fee for his signature. The report continues: “The market value quoted by the leading specialist platforms had already reached around 35 million by the spring of 2026, a sign of the defender’s rapid rise.”

A move in the winter is unlikely, and the report adds that Stuttgart will only let the player leave if they receive a substantial fee, stating: “The possibility of a transfer during the winter transfer window exists only on paper; it would probably take a very substantial offer to persuade Stuttgart to change their plans.”

“Above all, Juventus would have to compete with Premier League clubs capable of making extremely high investments. Bayern, on the other hand, represent the main threat within the Bundesliga. A move this January therefore seems unlikely, whilst a potential scenario for the summer might be more realistic.”

Jeltsch’s calmness in possession and ability to play out from the back make him an enticing proposition for United. Last season, the German registered 37 appearances in all competitions, 28 of which were starts.

Finn Jeltsch Stats: 2025/26 Season

Final Thoughts

Early signs indicate that United will have to consider defensive reinforcements in 2027, so it makes sense to track emerging players like Jeltsch. However, INEOS may have to prepare for a bidding war for the German next year.

The Peoples Person Reliability Assessment
Overall credibility: 6/10Why?

✅ TuttoJuve is a credible outlet for Juventus news.
✅ INEOS expected to focus on the backline in 2027.
⚠️ United likely to prefer players with Premier League experience.