Bordeaux forward Sékou Mara is currently “unconvinced” by a potential move to Newcastle United, according to French outlet Foot Mercato.
The ‘exclusive’ – written by FM’s chief editor Sébastien Denis – states that the 19-year-old has also attracted the interest from Aston Villa and Leeds, however Newcastle are currently trying to convince the player to make the switch to St James’ Park.
Mara recently finished as the top scorer in the Toulon Tournament – a competition former target Hugo Ekitike also featured in – scoring five goals in four games, leaving Bordeaux (with uncertainties about what division they will be playing in next year) to set a €10M fee on the centre-forward.
Scoring six times in just eight league starts in Ligue 1 last season, the young starlet has attracted the attention of both Dan Ashworth and Eddie Howe. He would not take up a space in the 25-man-squad as he is under 21, and can operate across the front three – making him a similar profile to Huge Ekitike.
No club is believed to have made a bid for the France U21 international at this point, but both Newcastle and Leeds have made an enquiry.
