With just over three weeks until the start of the winter transfer window, French clubs are looking for players with high potential, but who are having difficulties at their current club. Their objective is to recover at a lower cost, often as part of a loan with an option to purchase a player likely to bring them a real plus or simply to strengthen a squad. OM, OL, LOSC and more generally a good third of Ligue 1 should use this common method in the January transfer market, considered a supplementary market.
Sekou Mara is in a good position in this category. Revelation of the second part of the 2022 season with notably 6 goals in the last 7 Ligue 1 matches with Bordeaux then 5 goals in 5 matches at the Maurice Revello tournament with the French U20 team, the native of Paris was transferred to Southampton for 13 M€. A sum which notably made it possible at the time to save the Girondins from an administrative demotion to N1 which would undoubtedly have pushed them towards liquidation. But everything did not go as planned for the former French international hopeful, now 21 years old.
After a difficult season in a club adrift which was unable to escape relegation to the Championship, Sekou Mara did not often start (only 4 times for a total of 30 appearances). Performance-wise, there were some highlights, notably against Manchester City where he scored twice, once in the Premier League and again in the League Cup. Last winter, a few exit doors opened for Sekou Mara but failed to materialize. At the very end of the last transfer window, the Saints striker was close to signing up with Werder Bremen in vain.
Open to a return to Ligue 1
This winter will undoubtedly be a good one, especially since neither Southampton nor the French striker can afford to settle for crumbs in the Championship, he who aims to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games under the orders of Thierry Henry, and who also scored against Slovenia last September when the Bleuets were defeated 4-0. And the profile of the former Bordeaux player is quite attractive in Ligue 1. According to our information, LOSC, which is eagerly looking for an attacker to replace Jonathan David alone at the forefront of the attack, has made inquiries for a loan with an option purchase. OM, who are seeing the Aubameyang-Vitinha offensive duo awaken, are keeping a close eye on the player’s situation. It should be remembered that the name of Sekou Mara had already been mentioned last winter on the Canebière.
On the player’s side, there is obviously a real desire to get playing time back, a coach who will trust him and who will allow him to rediscover the feelings that he had 18 months ago. If Sekou Mara is not against a return to Ligue 1, he is also followed by several Bundesliga clubs. A championship designed for attackers and in which he will be able to show his advantage much more than in the Premier League… To be continued.
