Reported West Ham target Joakim Maehle has admitted that he was disappointed to miss out on a move to the Premier League in January, when speaking exclusively to Belgian media outlet De Zondag.
The Daily Star claimed in January that the Hammers were keen on signing the 22-year-old Danish right-back.
Whilst reliable West Ham insider ExWHUemployee claimed that the east London outfit actually made a bid for Maehle:
I think we have already. The two danish right backs we are in for have the same agent. Think it is felt by the club Maehle is the better one going forward but the other is better defensively https://t.co/ApH2Y6TczG
— ExWHUemployee (@ExWHUemployee) January 28, 2020
De Zondag suggest that Southampton and Manchester United were interested in the Genk ace too.
A move to England failed to materialise for Maehle, however.
And the 22-year-old told Belgian media outlet De Zondag how disappointed he was to miss out on a move to the Premier League in January:
Genk's Joakim Maehle in action (Photo by YORICK JANSENS/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)
“It is not surprising that Berge and Samatta are now also gone. We know the club's strategy, it's a good thing for everyone. That I had to stay was a disappointment, yes. I am ambitious, watched those beautiful foreign clubs pass by … We were champions, that does not work every year, perhaps this was my chance. But they said no”
Maehle has been in fine form for Genk this season, racking up four assists and one goal in 30 outings in all competitions (Transfermarkt).
He really impressed in the Champions League this term as well. In six games, the 22-year-old averaged 3.3 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 1.7 clearances and 0.7 blocks. He also recored an impressive pass completion rate of 76.1% in those games (Who Scored).
Genk's Joakim Maehle (Photo by LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)
The Genk ace, who won the Belgian league title last season, is valued at around £7.5 million by his club, according to Voetbal Primeur.
And that would have represented excellent value for money for West Ham.
Who knows? Maybe the Hammers will go back in for him in the summer. But they must focus all of their attention on staying the Premier League first.
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