Premier League outfit Southampton need a new right-back – could KRC Genk’s Joakim Maehle fit the bill for Ralph Hasenhuttl?
Southampton are leading the chase to sign £7.5 million Genk defender Joakim Maehle ahead of the summer transfer window, according to TuttoBolognaWeb.
The Saints might have landed a new right-back in January, snapping up Tottenham Hotspur youngster Kyle Walker-Peters, but they could find themselves back at square one within a few months.
After all, there is no option-to-buy clause in Walker-Peters’ contract. Cedric Soares, who is currently enjoying a temporary spell at Arsenal, is also set to depart St Mary’s as a free agent sooner rather than later with his contract due to expire in July as it stands.
Fortunately, Southampton appear to be at the front of the queue for a ready-made replacement – the swashbuckling Dane Maehle.
Reports in Italy suggest that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are leading Serie A outfit Bologna in the race for a very modern full-back who impressed in the Champions League group-stages for Genk in the first half of 2019/20.
The 22-year-old, who is available for as little as £7.5 million, has produced five goals and 14 assists since the start of the 2018/19 season and feels like something of a throwback to the days when Southampton were famed for snapping up rough diamonds from all over Europe.
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