Carl Zeiss Jena are seeking to strengthen their central defense due to the potential departures of Sören Reddemann, whose contract is expiring, and Maxim Hessel, who is attracting interest from several 3. Liga clubs. According to BILD, German defender Felix Göttlicher from Kickers Emden is a target for the Thuringians. The 24-year-old has already visited Jena, where he was seen with sporting director Miroslav Jovic in a café after viewing the facilities at the Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld and the city center. The 1.93-meter tall center-back, who has previous 3. Liga experience, is reportedly considered one of the main candidates for the club. Göttlicher joined Kickers Emden in August 2025 and his contract is scheduled to expire on 30/06/2026. His market value on Transfermarkt is currently €125k.