The Belgian centre-back was regarded as a serious target by the newly promoted Bundesliga club, according to Bild, with discussions involving Stuttgart and the player's representatives progressing before HSV ultimately stepped away.
The situation surrounding Daniel Elfadli proved significant. HSV had not found a suitable buyer for the versatile defender by Germany's transfer deadline on 1 September, leaving uncertainty over the club's defensive options and whether another centre-back was required.
Elfadli eventually joined Austrian side LASK on loan on 2 September, when the transfer window in Austria remained open. By then, however, the opportunity to bring Al-Dakhil to Hamburg had passed.
The failed move has become a talking point as the clubs meet in the Bundesliga, with Al-Dakhil once again sidelined by injury. The 24-year-old has struggled to establish himself at Stuttgart since arriving from Burnley in 2024 for a reported €9 million.
His latest setback was a knee problem that kept him out of VfB Stuttgart's recent friendly matches during the international break. Head coach Sebastian Hoeness had offered some encouragement about the expected duration of the absence, but the recurrence of the issue was another frustration for a defender whose progress has repeatedly been interrupted.
Al-Dakhil has made only limited appearances for Stuttgart across his first two years at the club. His injury record has restricted his opportunities to build a consistent partnership at the heart of the defence, and he has yet to make a meaningful contribution to the first team this season.
For HSV, the decision not to pursue the loan reflected a transfer-window situation in which the club needed clarity over its existing squad before adding another player. The move might have given Al-Dakhil a fresh opportunity to secure regular football, but the circumstances never aligned.
Stuttgart will hope the defender can return to fitness and compete for a place, while the abandoned HSV negotiations underline how quickly a potential transfer can change when a club's own squad plans remain unsettled.