Stuttgart sporting director Horst Heldt believes that in-demand striker Mario Gomez will certainly leave Die Roten before his contract expires...
The German international was Player of the Year during Stuttgart's rise to the Bundesliga title last season, and has continued to win an array of admirers in the current campaign.
So highly is he regarded that even the club's directorship admits that he's likely to move on before his deal comes to an end in 2012.
Sky Sports quotes Heldt as saying, "It's unrealistic to think that Mario will stay to the end of his contract in 2012.
"We're not so naive as to think he's going to play his whole career in Stuttgart, although obviously we want to keep him for as long as possible."
The 22-year-old signed his latest deal in the summer of 2007, but could move on to one of the likes of AC Milan, Juventus, Fiorentina, or Spanish champions Real Madrid.
Goal.com - VfB Stuttgart - Stuttgart Resigned To Gomez Exit