Premier League duo Crystal Palace and Southampton need a new right-back – how about KRC Genk’s Jupiler League winner Joakim Maehle?
Genk are facing up to the prospect of losing right-back Joakim Maehle during the January transfer window with sporting director Dimitri de Conde admitting that the Belgian champions are fielding multiple enquiries for the reported Crystal Palace and Southampton target, speaking to Voetbal Primeur.
With the January transfer window over a week old, neither Palace nor The Saints are any closer to signing the new right-back they have been crying out for since the summer.
There remains a huge, Aaron Wan-Bissaka shaped hole in Roy Hodgson’s backline at Selhurst Park while Southampton’s problem position is only going to get more worrisome when Cedric Soares’ contract expires in the summer.
Maehle, a Denmark U21 international with rapid pace and a pinpoint cross, would be a welcome addition at both clubs, especially given that he is available for just £7.5 million, according to Voetbal Primeur.
And, while an out-of-sorts Genk side would prefer to hang onto one of their star players, that could be easier said than done.
“There is a lot of demand for Maehle,” said De Conde, who has also seen star striker Mbwana Samatta and powerhouse playmaker Sander Berge linked with Premier League clubs.
Sky Sports reported that Maehle has admirers at Selhurst Park and St Mary’s and, with Genk out of the Champions League and well adrift in the Belgian top flight, he could be forgiven for demanding a fresh start.
In addition to his bargain price-tag, Maehle has produced an impressive 14 assists since the start of last season.
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