The right-back’s club, Genk, are nine points clear at the top of the Belgian league but some Saints fans hope he can come in the summer.
Reported Southampton January target Joakim Maehle has spoken out about his failed move to St Mary’s on transfer deadline day in an interview with Belgian publication Het Belang van Limburg.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, the Premier League club was prepared to pay Genk £10million in order to acquire the 21-year-old right-back’s services, but unfortunately for the Saints, the Belgian club refused to sell one of its key assets, said the Daily Echo.
In the end, Ralph Hasenhuttl failed to add to his squad in January, a fact which, combined with several players having moved away from the club, resulted in some fans criticising the club’s transfer window activity.
However, Maehle’s comments suggested that Southampton certainly did try to recruit him last month and, even though he respected Genk’s decision to keep him, he seemed to have left the door open on further developments at the end of the season.
“I’m not going to say that I wasn’t interested,” said the Dane. “This was a nice proposal from a big club from a top competition. But at the same time, I have full understanding of Genk’s point of view. They have also been very clear from the beginning: in this winter market all starters remain on board.
“I can only respect that. Because let me make it clear – I am still very happy here. I do not grieve but fully focus on the rest of the season. We still have so much to gain.”
After Southampton fans read Maehle’s comments, some took to Twitter to give their thoughts, and there is some hope that interest can be rekindled in the summer:
Southampton currently sit 16th in the Premier League table, two points above the relegation zone, while Genk are top of the Belgian Jupiler League, nine points clear of second-placed Club Brugge (BBC Sport).
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