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There was a time when Southampton were interested in signing Joakim Maehle when he was at KRC Genk.

The Danish full-back reportedly the subject of an €11.5m bid from the Saints back in 2019, but a move was blocked by the Belgian side, who eventually let him go to Atalanta for around £11m in January 2021.

Featuring in all but four Serie A games following his arrival, the defender has also been shining at the Euros with Denmark, who will face England on Wednesday night in a semi-final clash to face Italy in the final.

His performances, which include two goals and an assist in five appearances, haven’t gone unnoticed, with the likes of Chelsea reportedly interested.

Southampton are as well, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, who ‘approached to ask for information’, and were kindly told by the Italian side they would need €28m to sign him this summer.

That’s a lot of money, even for a Premier League club like the Saints, and it remains to be seen if they are willing to go that high, even if he is a player Ralph Hasenhüttl and co. have been following for years.