Serhou Guirassy turned down Fulham and is overshadowing Harry Kane, despite Jurgen Klopp leaving Stuttgart in disarray

The most remarkable thing about Stuttgart’s almost flawless start to the season is the crisis one of their most famous sons left them in.

Black Forest-born Jurgen Klopp returned to southern Germany during the summer as a Champions League and Premier League winner, taking his Liverpool side on a pre-season tour.

Much of his local appearances saw the Reds boss bombarded with questions about taking over the national team, but little did the adoring Stuttgart locals know, he was about to throw their season into chaos.

Only staying in the Bundesliga last season by the skin of their teeth with a relegation play-off victory, hopes were already low for 2023/24 before Klopp came and took their captain.

Wataru Endo joined the Anfield side in a £20million move, and the impact of his departure can quite easily be summed up by the simple fact that his nickname was ‘Legendo’.

Described as “Our face and an absolute warrior,” by head coach Sebastian Hoeness just weeks earlier, the up-and-coming coach had to admit he was ‘not enthusiastic’ about the sale.

Sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth was far more expressive, though, adding: “A big piece of our identity is gone, his loss is extremely difficult."

Relegation favourites after their poor campaign last time out and loss of their captain, just a couple of months later Stuttgart had a new leader that no one quite expected.

Signed on loan from Rennes last season and finishing with a one in two goalscoring record, The Swabians were perhaps lucky to keep hold of Serhou Guirassy, especially for just €9million [£7.7m].

His 14 goals last season impressed, but now he’s already matched that total in just eight games, and his 13 in the Bundesliga have him five ahead of the league’s record signing, Bayern