SAINTS have reportedly rejected a loan offer from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for young striker Sekou Mara.

The 21 year old is believed to have been on the German outfits' shortlist to replace star forward Niclas Füllkrug who is reportedly close to joining Borussia Dortmund.

Mara, who joined Southampton from Bordeaux last summer, has only managed 34 minutes in the Championship so far this season under Russell Martin.

His longest cameo of the 2023-24 campaign came in the EFL Cup when he played 45 minutes as Saints crashed out against League Two Gillingham.

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German outlet Bild reports that Saints have blocked Werder Bremen's move for Mara, who was recently called up to France's under-21 side.

Mara joined Saints off the back of a breakout season with Bordeaux in which he scored a career-best six goals as a teenager.

During his first season on the south coast, he managed to make 30 appearances across all competitions, scoring twice