Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush a Manchester City transfer target: All to know

With the season halfway through, the in-form striker Omar Marmoush has helped Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt potentially reach the top four for the first time in over 30 years, which has also led to him being closely monitored by top European clubs during the winter transfer window.

Currently ranked third, Frankfurt last made the Bundesliga top four in the 1992-1993 season. They now have an eight-point lead over Borussia Dortmund, but Marmoush's dazzling performance may also make them a victim, as the 25-year-old is attracting potential pursuit from several European giants.

Here is some information about the promising striker, who is on the verge of becoming a superstar in the football world: Marmoush was born in Cairo in 1999 and stood out in the youth academy of Wadi Degla Club in the Egyptian Premier League in his early years. At just 17 years old, he was promoted to the first team, and a year later joined the reserve team of Wolfsburg.

At Wolfsburg, Marmoush initially encountered difficulties in terms of performance and playing time, which led to him being loaned to St. Pauli and Stuttgart. The forward joined Frankfurt on a free transfer before the 2023-2024 season, scoring 12 goals in 29 league games. He also struggled to adapt to life in Germany.

According to Marmoush's agent, the 1.83-meter-tall striker's initial struggles with language and German life laid the foundation for his later achievements. "Marmoush's command of German, French, and English has greatly contributed to his success. He is performing exceptionally well at Frankfurt," said Ahmed Abdoun.

In 2021, the year Marmoush made his first appearance for Wolfsburg's first team, he was also called up to the Egyptian national team for the first time, although he was also eligible to represent Canada. In his international debut alongside Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, Marmoush scored the winning goal against Libya in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

So far this season, the Egyptian player has performed outstandingly in the 2024-2025 Bundesliga season. Marmoush has scored 15 goals, second only to Bayern Munich's Harry Kane in the league's top scorer list. He has contributed 10 assists in 17 Bundesliga games, leading the league's assist chart. In addition, he has scored 4 goals in the Europa League and 1 goal in the German domestic cup, the DFB-Pokal.

In Europe's top five leagues, his 25 goal contributions are second only to his Egyptian compatriot Salah, who has contributed 31 goals in three more games. On the international stage, Marmoush has scored 6 goals in 35 appearances for the Egyptian national team. Frankfurt head coach Dino Toppmöller said, "Omar always wants to win, whether it's in a Bundesliga match or a training session."

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany was full of praise for Marmoush after he scored the equalizing goal in the team's 3-3 home draw with Bayern in October. "Marmoush is a player who will only get better with time," Kompany said, praising the forward's extraordinary skills as "unusual."

Marmoush's progress has inevitably sparked comparisons with Salah, but the Liverpool star has warned against such associations. "Omar has great potential and is currently an important player for his team and national team, but I hope we don't make comparisons because it will put pressure on him," Salah said in November. "Don't compare him to me. Don't say 'the new Mohamed Salah'. Let him have his own career. Comparing a player who is just starting his career with another who has achieved great things for many years is not helpful to him."

The Frankfurt striker's contract with the German club expires in the summer of 2027. Although Marmoush has been playing in Germany since 2017, he has always had the potential to be acquired by larger European clubs. Multiple media outlets have reported that Manchester City is very interested in acquiring the forward, which would put Marmoush in the most intense competition with his compatriot Salah for the Premier League title, Salah being Egypt's most famous sporting export.

It is widely reported that Manchester City is preparing to take immediate action to sign Marmoush before the transfer window closes on February 3. Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krösche admitted that one club had "expressed interest in the player," but he did not confirm it was Manchester City. The Premier League champions have recently been underperforming under head coach Pep Guardiola. It is believed that Arsenal, and even Liverpool, may also be interested in acquiring Marmoush.

Sky Sports reported that Frankfurt is asking for 80 million euros (82 million US dollars) for Marmoush, but Krösche also refused to confirm. "It makes no sense to talk about prices," Krösche said. "Basically, we have said that our goal is to keep this team together. Of course, we have also said that if special circumstances arise, we will have to consider letting go of top players. We are not at that point yet." This would be Frankfurt's second major transfer deal in a year and a half, following the sale of Randal Kolo Muani to Paris Saint-Germain for 95 million euros (then 103 million US dollars) in 2023.

The Egyptian player's agent, Abdoun, said that a decision will be made based on the final offers from all potential clubs. "The Bundesliga has always been a stepping stone to big leagues like the Premier League or La Liga. If there are any offers, we will discuss them with the club and make the best decision."