Manchester City are targeting Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush to bolster Pep Guardiola’s forward line, though signing him this month will be difficult owing to the Bundesliga club’s challenge for a Champions League place.
Frankfurt are third, in the final automatic qualification berth, having played only once in Europe’s premier club competition since 1960 – two seasons ago.
City admire the Egyptian but are aware the Eintracht head coach, Dino Toppmöller, does not wish to lose his top scorer. Only Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane has more Bundesliga goals this season than Marmoush’s 13.
Marmoush, who would cost about £50m, is a No 9 who can also operate wide or as a No 10. The 25-year-old, who has 18 goals in all competitions for Eintracht this season, has scored a more modest six times in 35 international appearances.
City sold Julián Alvarez to Atlético Madrid for a club record £82m in the summer but did not replace the forward, whose profile is similar to Marmoush’s.
Erling Haaland has recently rediscovered his form, scoring three times in City’s past two games after managing only one goal in his previous seven matches. Signing Marmoush would enable Guardiola to rest Haaland and allow a different mode of play if the manager wished.
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City’s title defence slumped as a result of one win in nine games before the wins over Leicester and West Ham. They are sixth, 12 points behind the leaders, Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.
Source: theguardian.com
