Maassen said the transfer of striker Antonio Verinac from Lübeck is more of a move for the next season. He also stated that Antonio Verinac was not signed by St. Gallen as a direct replacement for Vladi. Maassen further explained that they have enough strikers but decided to bring Antonio in now to allow him to acclimate, which enables the club to assess how quickly he adapts. Maassen noted that it is a significant step up from the fourth-highest league in Germany to the Super League.

Antonio Verinac, a 21-year-old Croatian youth international, will join FC St. Gallen on a free transfer from VfB Lübeck of the German Regionalliga Nord. The 1.93m tall German-Croatian dual national has signed a contract with FC St. Gallen until 2030. He scored 14 goals and provided two assists in 23 competitive matches for Lübeck during the current season. Roger Stilz, the sporting director for FC St. Gallen, stated that Verinac is a straightforward, athletic, and strong-finishing striker who is a good fit for the club. Stilz also added that the player has shown his goal-scoring instinct this season, and that the club is convinced of his qualities and will help him take the next steps in his development. According to Transfermarkt, his current market value is listed as €150k.