Southampton should finally cut their losses on a player who has failed to live up to expectation since his arrival in 2022.
Russell Martin will want to focus primarily on incomings in the last few weeks of the summer transfer window as he looks to build a Southampton squad capable of Premier League survival.
However, it is rare that any club has the luxury of not either needing to move players on or desperately trying to refute interest in their players.
Southampton are no different, with the likes of Paul Onuachu and Armel Bella-Kotchap still expected to leave this summer whilst interest in star man Kyle Walker-Peters has seen the right-back yet to feature in pre-season despite being fit to play.
Now, Martin has a decision to make on a player that arrived at St Mary’s two summers ago but has struggled to ever really make his mark on the south coast.
Southampton striker Sekou Mara linked with move to Brest
Southampton saw fit to spend £11 million to bring a 19-year-old Sekou Mara to the club two seasons ago, capitalising on Bordeaux’s financial woes to sign a player viewed as possessing enormous potential.
However, after eight goals in 64 appearances for the Saints, he has struggled so far to live up to the expectation.
Despite this, there has remained interest in his signature throughout his time at St Mary’s, with various French clubs as well as Werder Bremen interested in taking the striker on loan.
Now, Southampton could be left with a decision to make on the youngster, as Ligue 1 side Brest are seemingly interested in a move.
That is according to French journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter, who posted on ‘X’ simply: “Brest eyeing Mara.”
Southampton should sell Mara provided another striker comes in
Mara has been heavily involved in pre-season, owing much to the departure of Che Adams, continued absence of Ross Stewart and the fact Ben Brereton Diaz has only just signed.
In fact, Martin has handed Mara plenty of opportunities to stake a claim for a starting spot across his season in charge at the club and yet the forward has failed to ever really grasp them.
Aside from a flurry of positive cameos off the bench over the festive period last season, Mara has all too often looked off the pace and lacked threat when entrusted to lead the line for the Saints.
He is a player Martin likes, and the Saints boss was full of praise for Mara after an FA Cup brace against Watford in February, saying: “He is very talented player. He played on the left, on the right and through the middle.
“I’m really pleased for him. He is such a laid-back young man and a great person. I really enjoy Sekou’s energy.
“I think sometimes he can look a bit relaxed and languid but he is not – he trains like a beast.”
However, having scored just three championship goals and given the step up in quality associated with the Premier League, now might be the time for Southampton to capitalise on interest in Mara and sanction a sale.
The Saints cannot wait forever to get a return on their investment and although the club are currently light on strikers they should sanction Mara’s sale provided they bring in another forward this summer.