High-flying VfB Stuttgart could reportedly be represented with four players when Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann nominates his squad for upcoming friendlies against France and the Netherlands on Thursday.
Sky TV saisd that midfielder Chris Führich would be picked again after making his national debut in October, and that centre back Waldemar Anton, left back Maximilian Mittelstädt and striker Deniz Undav were set for a first call-up.
Nagelsmann has announced changes after Germany lost their last two games against Turkey and Austria. A turnaround is needed in the final countdown to the Euro 2024 home tournament Germany start on June 14 against Scotland.
It has already been announced that midfielder and 2014 World Cup winner Toni Kroos is coming out of international retirement after three years for the friendlies on March 23 in Lille against France and three days later in Frankfurt against the Dutch.
Stuttgart are meanwhile playing an outstanding season and are placed third in the Bundesliga, and Anton and Mittelstädt could help bolster the at times shaky defence while Undav is seen as a back-up for Niclas Füllkrug up front.
Former Germany captain and 1990 World Cup winner Lothar Matthäus said in his Sky column that Nagelsmann should make defensive changes and was full of praise for the Stuttgart captain Anton.
"I would definitely invite him, also because he is a team leader," Matthäus said.
Matthäus added that forwards Jan-Niklas Beste of Heidenheim and Maximilian Beier of Hoffenheim could also be candidates because they have done well lately "and have something that others may not have, such as dangerous dead ball situations and speed."
Another potential candidate could be Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksander Pavlovic but Matthäus said the team has enough top midfielders and that a call-up may be too early for the 19-year-old.
"You have to acknowledge that he has played superbly recently, but you shouldn't turn the boy's head," Matthäus said.
The March friendlies are the last games before Nagelsmann picks his provisional Euro tournament. One or two further tune-up games are planned just before the Euros where Germany play Hungary and Switzerland in their other group games.
