Why Crystal Palace should make a move for Joakim Maehle in the summer

In January, Evening Standard had claimed that Crystal Palace targeted KRC Genk right-back Joakim Maehle, but a move didn’t materialise during the winter transfer window.

Joakim Maehle, 22, joined KRC Genk from Aalborg in 2017 and has made 110 appearances for the Belgian club. He has enjoyed a solid 2019/20 campaign so far, bagging a goal and four assists in 29 appearances across all competitions.

With the Danish defender impressing for Genk over the last two seasons, Crystal Palace must rekindle their interest in him during the summer transfer window.

The Eagles have been a disciplined and organised unit under Roy Hodgson, conceding only 32 goals in 26 games. They have achieved it this season without even replacing Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the summer. Wan-Bissaka, who made 35 league appearances last season and was sold to Manchester United.

This saw Joel Ward start this season as the club’s first-choice right-back. But Ward has had an injury-hit campaign at Selhurst Park, which has seen him make only 17 league appearances. Martin Kelly deputised at right-back in Ward’s absence and while Ward has returned from injury in the recent few weeks, the right-back area continues to remain problematic.

To put things into perspective, none of Ward or Kelly has done enough to convince at right-back and Hodgson should recruit Joakim Maehle from Genk.

Maehle is an exciting young right-back who has performed really well for Genk since arriving a couple of years back. At the age of 22, he has already played over 100 games in the Belgian top-flight and played in all six of Genk’s Champions League group matches earlier this season, featuring on two occasions against the European champions Liverpool.

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The former Denmark Under-21 international has proven himself with Genk in Belgium and is at the right age to make the move to the Premier League. Maehle is an attacking right-back who has contributed with a goal and four assists so far this season. Last term, he registered four goals and 10 assists in 54 appearances. All in all, he would be a solid addition to Palace’s backline.

Verdict

Ward has done a decent job this season but he is not a long-term solution at right-back for Palace. He is 30 years old and has struggled with injuries. On the contrary, Maehle is only 22 and has a lot of room for improvement. The Dane would be a good option to add strength to Palace’s right-back position, thus Hodgson should make his signing a priority in the summer.