Southampton are reportedly set to make the Danish defender their first signing of the Ralph Hasenhuttl era.
Southampton could be edging closer to completing their first signing of the Ralph Hasenhuttl era.
The Saints have been linked with a number of right-backs and centre-forwards of late, with the Sun claiming on Wednesday that the Austrian coach was keen to reunite with his former RB Leipzig forward Jean-Kevin Augustin, despite the Frenchman’s £38 million price-tag.
But, according to the Mail, Southampton’s first new addition of the January transfer window could be a defender. Specifically, the KRC Genk right-back Joakim Maehle.
A Danish U21 international, Maehle is an attack-minded player who moved to Belgian football from Aalborg in 2017 for a bargain fee of £1.3 million.
His price-tag is likely to have sky-rocketed since then, however, with Maehle producing an impressive seven assists this season for a Genk side who are seven points clear at the top of the league.
It remains to be seen how much Southampton will pay, however, but the Mail reports that they have opened talks over a deal that would see the 21-year-old join compatriot Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on the South Coast.
His swashbuckling style could prove a perfect fit for Hasenhuttl, whose Leipzig side were renowned for their high-pressing and uber-attacking approach.
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