According to Sky Sports, Southampton are preparing to make a move for Joakim Maehle of Genk.
What’s the story?
The 22-year-old is a player that the Saints tried to signed last January, but the Belgian club blocked the move due to their Europa League run. The centre-back admitted afterwards that it was a “nice proposal from a big club in a big competition”.
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The south-coast side are not the only Premier League team with an eye on him, though. Crystal Palace are another side who are mentioned by the report.
Plays into their hands
At right-back, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side is far from settled. Cedric Soares and Yan Valery are the two players to have lined up the most regularly on that side of the defence, but neither have set the world alight – they have picked up average WhoScored ratings of 6.56 and 6.36 respectively.
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Maehle, therefore, would be coming in in a position that could do with some reinforcements. The Denmark U21 international could be a good addition, as well. In 105 appearances for Genk, he has five goals and 17 assists, which is not a bad return for a right-back, whilst he also has Europa League and Champions League experience under his belt.
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At the U21 European Championship earlier this year, he showed off his attacking ability, scoring twice and providing an assist in two matches, and last term he was a part of the best defence in the Jupiler League.
Currently valued at £8.1m by Transfermarkt, Maehle would be a good addition. Not only that, the St. Mary’s outfit can now take advantage of Genk’s exit from European competition. After all, their commitments on the continent is what stepped them selling him last year, and now there are no such worries.
With Southampton in need of defensive additions – they have conceded 36 goals, which is more than any other team in England’s top tier – the timing could not be better to purchase Maehle, both for themselves and the Belgian outfit.
In other news, Southampton are doing far worse then they should according to the stats.