Stuttgart president Erwin Staudt has revealed the club is eager to re-sign Alexander Hleb but admits his wage demands could prove problematic.
The £10.5m-rated Barcelona midfielder, 28, has had a difficult first season at Camp Nou and, although he has stressed that he wants to fight for his place, reports persist that he could return to Germany.
And while Staudt has now confirmed that Stuttgart would be interested in taking the player back to the Mercedes-Benz Arena, he admits the club could struggle to finance the deal.
“It is not just about transfer fees with a player like this but also about salary demands,” he told Bild.
“We must consider whether we will buy the player and for how many years or whether we loan him with an option to buy.”
Asked if Hleb would consider taking a pay-cut to return to VfB, he said: “Although he loves Stuttgart, I could hardly imagine a player of his age and reputation doing that.
“You tend to make that sort of compromise towards the end of your career.”
Bayern Munich, Lyon and Aston Villa have also been linked with a move for Hleb.