Southampton appear to have missed out on Joakim Maehle with the Genk defender on the verge of joining Atalanta in a deal worth about £9 million, as reported by Sky Italia.
The Saints haven’t had much luck lately when it comes to recruiting a right-back.
Yes, Kyle Walker-Peters arrived on a permanent transfer from Tottenham Hotspur after an impressive loan spell at St Mary’s but, after being snubbed by Hertha Berlin’s Deyovaisio Zeefuik, Southampton also missed out on Rick Karsdorp and Matty Cash during the summer.
Now, according to reports in Italy, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side will soon bid farewell to hopes of snapping up a highly rated Dane they have been scouting for more than a year.
Late last week, Italian media outlet Alfredo Pedulla stated Southampton still hoped to lure Maehle to England. However, it seems Atalanta, Champions League quarter-finalists last season, will be his destination instead.
Sky claims the Denmark international will say goodbye to Genk, with Gian Piero Gasperini’s side all but tying up a deal that will set them back £9 million.
Interestingly, Maehle would become the third player to leave Genk for Atalanta and, if he can emulate the impact made by Timothy Castagne and Ruslan Malinovskyi, it would be £9 million very well spent.
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