Why Egypt’s Omar Marmoush is Manchester City’s top transfer target this window
Why Egypt’s Omar Marmoush is Manchester City’s top transfer target this window
Over the past four seasons, reigning Premier League champion Manchester City has not been particularly involved in the January transfer window. This year, however, a dire run which saw it win only an unimaginable one match in 13 has left the side hunting for new players.
While Erling Haaland has been a reliable output for goals since joining in 2022, opposition teams have managed to keep the mighty Norwegian at bay lately. In the two previous title-winning seasons, Haaland scored a record 36 and 27 goals as City plundered in 94 and 96 goals, respectively.
Despite the 24-year-old scoring 16 of the 36 goals in the current campaign, he has failed to find the net in 10 of the 20 matches in the league. Without his goals and injuries to key players, City has well and truly loosened its grip on the trophy that has been with the side for four seasons.
A part of this problem could be solved by the arrival of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush, who City has reportedly set its sight on. The 25-year-old Egyptian has impressed with his performances this season with 18 goals and 12 assists across all competitions.
Marmoush began his professional career with Egyptian club Wadi Degla SC in 2016 before shifting to Germany to play for the VfL Wolfsburg reserve team. After an impressive couple of seasons, he made his professional debut for the first team in 2020.
A couple of loan spells with FC St. Pauli and VfB Stuttgart helped Marmoush establish himself as a hot prospect, earning him a free transfer move to Eintracht Frankfurt ahead of the 2023-24 season.
He had a splendid debut season, amassing 17 goals and six assists in 41 appearances in all competitons, and helped the team secure a Europa League spot.
At present, he sits second in Europe’s top five leagues in terms of goals and assists, conceding the top spot to his compatriot Mohamed Salah (21 goals and 17 assists in all competitions).
He made his international debut for Egypt in 2021 and has earned 35 caps, scoring six goals and assisting three. He was also part of Egypt’s squad for the 2021 and 2023 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Julian Alvarez’s departure to Atletico Madrid in the summer meant that the major chunk of the goalscoring duties fell to Haaland. During his two-season stay at the club, the Argentine was mostly used as a second striker.
He would make runs in behind opposition players, drawing them away and allowing Haaland to have a crack at the goal and vice-versa. If the defenders don’t follow him, Alvarez would find space to pivot and make a pass or advance forward. Marmoush fits a similar profile.
This season with Frankfurt, the Egyptian mostly assumed the left half of a two-man attacking partnership in a 4-4-2 formation. He leads the Bundesliga charts this season for the most Goal-Creating Actions (18) and is third for the most Progressive Carries (63).
Marmoush’s agility and pace have also made him a threat in the wider areas of the pitch, allowing him to dribble his way through defences that sit back deep in their own half.
Following Frankfurt’s 4-2 win against Holstein Kiel in the league last September, a game in which Marmoush scored a brace, manager Dino Toppmoller said, “He’s (Marmoush) responsible for producing danger up front, firing in goals and setting up others.”
“He’s very difficult to defend due to his pace and how fast he can run in deep. He can also sneak in from close range, take a great touch and play some great passes,” Toppmoller added.
Guardiola could opt for a 4-2-3-1 setup which he used during Alvarez’s time with the club, with Marmoush playing directly behind Haaland, and Jeremy Doku/Jack Grealish and Savinho/ Bernardo Silva providing assistance on the wings.
Marmoush does not shy away from having a shot at the goal either, having 64 attempts, the most in the Bundesliga this season. This will be especially beneficial for this City side which is heavily reliant on Haaland, who has scored 21 of its 60 goals across competitions this season.
Marmoush is lethal from freekicks too, having scored three across all competitions so far. In comparison, City is yet to score a direct freekick this season.
Before being linked with City, the forward was also considered to be Salah’s replacement at Liverpool after his contract expires in the coming summer. Back in November 2024, during a public event in Sharjah, Salah asked fans and pundits not to compare Marmoush with himself.
“There are not many players from Egypt and the Arab countries who went to Europe and fought for success, and Marmoush is one of them,” Salah said.
“I see that he has great potential, he is an important player for his team and the national team, I want him to stay away from the idea of comparisons to make his life easier,” he added.
While much of City‘s woes this season can be attributed to defensive fragility and injuries, a strategic transfer window might just do the trick to put it back on track for the latter half of the season.
(All stats updates as of January 10, 2024)
