According to Bild, Stepanov has submitted a transfer request to the club and wants to terminate his contract in Nuremberg as soon as possible. He could possibly be loaned to another club during the winter transfer window, which is open until February 2nd. The club is also said to be open to ending Stepanov's loan early.

There has been speculation about a loan termination for Leverkusen player Artem Stepanov, and he is now supposed to gain match practice with the Nürnberg U23. Trainer Miroslav Klose stated that they offered Stepanov the opportunity to play with the amateurs, but he was unable to play because of a headache and feeling unwell. Stepanov has since recovered and trained individually on Tuesday. According to Klose, it is undecided whether Stepanov will play in the next U23 test match against Sandhausen or be included in the professional squad for the match in Darmstadt. Klose also stated that both options are possible.

An early end to Stepanov's loan, which was originally until the end of the season, is now a possibility. A departure for Stepanov could offer FCN an additional option, especially with regard to the DFL's loan regulations. BILD reported that there is a maximum of 6 players from German clubs. The club has already filled its quota with Yilmaz, Drexler, Koudossou, Stepanov, Grzywacz, and Buchmann.

Artem Stepanov, a 17-year-old striker from Bayer Leverkusen, has attracted interest from several clubs for a possible transfer during the winter transfer period. Among the clubs showing interest is 1. FC Kaiserslautern, who are seeking a striker for the second half of the season because of injuries and underperformance within their current squad. Stepanov, appreciated for his technical skills and speed, matches the profile that Kaiserslautern desires. He was elevated to Leverkusen's professional team due to a shortage of personnel and is under contract until 2027. His sole appearance for the team was in a Champions League match against FC Salzburg.