Central defender Fernando Meira will leave VfB Stuttgart during the currenrt transfer period but is yet to find a club, the 2007 Bundesliga champions announced on Friday, dpa reported.
Sports director Horst Heldt said that Meira's agent was in contact with other clubs but that nothing was finalised yet. The Portuguese Meira came to Stuttgart in 2002.
"It hurts us. He is a team leader," said Heldt.
Heldt also confirmed that Stuttgart were looking into the hiring of Netherlands central defender Khalid Boulahrouz who rarely plays at his English club Chelsea and was last loaned off to Spain's Sevilla.