Over the past four seasons, reigning Premier League champions Manchester City have not been particularly involved in the January transfer window. This year, however, a disastrous run that saw them win just one out of 13 games forced the team to look for new players.
While Erling Haaland has been a reliable goal producer since his arrival in 2022, opposing teams have managed to keep the powerful Norwegian at bay in recent times. In the previous two seasons, Haaland scored a record 36 and 27 goals while City plundered 94 and 96 goals respectively.
Although the 24-year-old has scored 16 of 36 goals in the current campaign, he has failed to find the net in 10 of 20 league matches. Without his goals and injuries to key players, City have well and truly loosened their grip on the trophy that has accompanied the team for four seasons.
Part of this problem could be solved by the arrival of Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt, on whom City have reportedly set their sights. The 25-year-old Egyptian has impressed with his performances this season with 18 goals and 12 assists in all competitions.
Who is Omar Marmoush?
Marmoush began his professional career with Egyptian club Wadi Degla SC in 2016 before moving to Germany to play for reserve team VfL Wolfsburg. After a few impressive 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 promising prospect, earning him a free transfer 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 competitions, and helped the team secure a place in the Europa League.
He currently occupies second place in the top 5 European championships in terms of goals and assists, conceding first place to his compatriot Mohamed Salah (21 goals and 17 assists in all competitions).
He made his international debut for Egypt in 2021 and has won 35 caps, scoring six goals and providing three assists. He was also part of the Egyptian squad for the 2021 and 2023 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Omar Marmoush (left) leads the Bundesliga table this season for the most goal-creating actions (18) and is third for the most progressive runs (63). | Photo credit: AP
Omar Marmoush (left) leads the Bundesliga table this season for the most goal-creating actions (18) and is third for the most progressive runs (63). | Photo credit: AP
How can Omar Marmoush help Manchester City?
The departure of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid this summer meant that the bulk of the goal-scoring duties fell to Haaland. During his two-season stay at the club, the Argentine was mostly used as a second striker.
He would run behind opposing players, keeping them away and allowing Haaland to have a chance on goal and vice-versa. If defenders don’t follow him, Alvarez would find space to pivot and pass or advance. Marmoush fits a similar profile.
This season with Frankfurt, the Egyptian has primarily assumed the left half of a two-man attacking duo in a 4-4-2 formation. He leads the Bundesliga table this season for the most goal-creating actions (18) and is third for the most progressive runs (63).
Marmoush’s agility and pace have also made him a threat in the widest areas of the pitch, allowing him to force his way through defenses that stay back in their own half.
After Frankfurt’s 4-2 league victory over Holstein Kiel last September, a match in which Marmoush scored twice, manager Dino Toppmoller said: “He (Marmoush) is responsible for creating danger in front, shooting in goals and prepare for others.”
“He is very difficult to defend because of his pace and how fast he can run deep. He can also sneak in from close range, take a good touch and play great passes,” added Toppmoller.
Guardiola could opt for a 4-2-3-1 setup that 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 isn’t shy about taking shots on goal either, with 64 attempts, the most in the Bundesliga this season. This will be particularly beneficial for this City team which relies heavily on Haaland, who has scored 21 of his 60 goals in all competitions this season.
Marmoush is also lethal from free kicks, having scored three in all competitions so far. In comparison, City have yet to score a direct free kick this season.
Before being linked with City, the striker was also seen as Salah’s replacement at Liverpool after his contract expired next summer. In November 2024, during a public event in Sharjah, Salah asked fans and experts not to compare Marmoush with himself.
“There are not many Egyptian and Arab players 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 comparison to make his life easier,” said he added.
Although much of City’s woes this season can be attributed to defensive fragility and injuries, a strategic transfer window could just do the trick to get them back on track for the second half of the season.
(All statistics updated as of January 10, 2024)
