VfB Stuttgart was interested in Anes Cardaklija, a 2005-born center-back playing for Gais in Sweden, but their offer was rejected. Cologne also had a bid for the player turned down, and Borussia Monchengladbach was another interested party. Spezia is now close to acquiring the Bosnian-Swedish defender, with the club working on a loan deal that includes a future option. Cardaklija, who joined GAIS in September 2022, is under contract until the end of 2028 and has been capped twice by the Bosnia-Herzegovina U21 team. Transfermarkt estimates his current market value to be €500k.