Southampton boss Russell Martin has ruled out the possibility of letting Sekou Mara leave St Mary’s on loan during the January transfer window.
Mara has been used as a squad player throughout the 2023/24 campaign. The French forward has made just 14 Championship appearances for Southampton, and 13 of these have come from the bench.
As a result, the 21-year-old has been linked with a move away from the high-flying Saints in a bid for more playing time. Ligue 1 side Lille have reportedly shown interest in a loan move for Mara for the remainder of the season, as reported by Sport.fr.
However, when speaking to the Daily Echo after Southampton thrashed Walsall 4-0 in the FA Cup on Saturday, manager Russel Martin was eager to dismiss any speculation on Mara’s future.
The Saints boss backed his young forward and highlighted his importance to the team, despite a lack of playing time. In particular, Martin was delighted with Mara’s display during the Walsall win, where the forward netted his second goal this season.
“He’s not going anywhere, no. It would be mad, wouldn’t it?
“He is a really good footballer, a good technician, and a brilliant athlete. I really liked his performance against Walsall.”
Mara joined Southampton from Bordeaux at the beginning of the 2022/23 season. The French player made 22 Premier League appearances last season but only scored once and made two assists as the Saints finished bottom in a disappointing campaign.
Writer’s View
Martin’s public backing of Mara will give the forward confidence that he is a valuable figure at Southampton. Also, Martin will be eager to keep the morale high amongst all squad members as he hopes to lead the Saints to promotion following an impressive 18-match unbeaten run in the Championship.
Yet, Mara’s playing time will ultimately rest on the fitness of star performers Adam Armstrong and Che Adams, who have struck a combined 20 goals this season in all competitions. Such competition means the 21-year-old’s playing time will ultimately be limited and he remains the third-choice central striker in a strong Saints frontline.
