Newcastle United have set their sights on Bordeaux forward Sekou Mara, who is set to cost around €15 million.
According to Loic Tanzi, Newcastle United have set their sights on Sekou Mara. The Bordeaux forward is attracting interest from clubs across Europe following his impressive performances in Ligue 1. Newcastle are among the clubs keen on his services, with Atletico Madrid also involved in the chase.
Bordeaux are not too keen on offloading their star player on a cut-price deal, though. They are apparently holding out for a fee of €15 million excluding add-ons. The club are also demanding a certain percentage of the sell-on fee embedded in the contract.
Formerly a member of the PSG youth academy, Mara was one of the breakout stars in Ligue 1 this past season. He racked up 26 league appearances with Bordeaux, impressing the onlookers by scoring six goals and showcasing dynamism, skill and technique going forward. The teenager also caught the eye with his performances for France Under-20 side at the Maurice Revello Tournament last month.
And the 19-year-old’s rapid rise to prominence has not gone unnoticed. Atletico Madrid are already interested in roping him in ahead of the new season, as they look to prepare for life without Luis Suarez. Mara could represent a sensible, long-term investment as the youngster has shown immense potential and could become a success under Diego Simeone.
However, Los Colchoneros must be wary of the competition from Newcastle United. The Magpies have called off their pursuit of top target Hugo Ekitike and will be desperate to go all out for alternatives, which include Bayer Leverkusen forward Moussa Diaby as well.
But it appears Newcastle are ready to abandon their pursuit of Diaby as well, thus accentuating the need for a new face in the attacking unit. And after repeatedly facing failures in their pursuit of top targets, someone like Sekou Mara could be an appealing option for coach Eddie Howe.
The Newcastle United manager has a strong record of developing young talents and given Mara’s all-round abilities in the final third, the young Bordeaux attacker could indeed become a valuable asset for the Magpies. However, it will be interesting to see whether the Premier League outfit are open to meeting Bordeaux’s €15 million valuation this summer.
Newcastle and Atletico Madrid are not the only clubs interested in Mara either, with the youngster also courted by English champions Manchester City, even though the player himself might not fancy a move to Etihad due to the immense competition.
