Atalanta have announced the sale of highly-rated full-back Joakim Maehle to Bundesliga powerhouse Wolfsburg. After persistent rumors linking the 26-year-old with several clubs in Italy and France, he’ll continue his career in Germany.
Maehle joined Atalanta from Genk in January 2021, putting pen to paper on a four-year contract. Over the past two-and-a-half years, the Denmark international established himself as one of Gian Piero Gasperini’s most trusted allies. But his form dwindled last season.
The arrivals of Mitchel Bakker and Sead Kolasinac have plagued Maehle’s first-team prospects at Atalanta. With the former enjoying an impressive pre-season, Gasperini has grown confident of the Dutch defender’s potential significance to La Dea’s cause.
Bakker’s eye-catching showings have rendered Maehle’s services unnecessary. Despite making 96 appearances for Atalanta, the club informed the Dane his services were no longer required, urging him to find a new home. Wolfsburg came to his aid.
After collecting a small fortune from Micky van de Ven’s move to Tottenham Hotspur, the Germans have decided to reinvest those funds in the market. It didn’t take long before they convinced Atalanta to sell them the attacking-minded left-back.
Maehle’s departure will pour around €13 million into the Italian’s bank accounts. His sale is unlikely to be the final piece of business conducted by Atalanta this summer. Young striker Emmanuel Latte Lath could soon join the ever-growing outgoing contingent.
As per Gazzetta dello Sport, Championship side Middlesbrough are ready to offer Atalanta €6m for the Ivorian, who enjoyed a decent loan spell at St Gallen last term.
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