Marmoush to Tottenham: an adventure or a golden deal both sides need?
The Egyptian star's role has diminished at the Etihad: so is he heading to London in search of a bigger opportunity?
Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on a fresh boost to their attack, opening advanced talks with Manchester City over a move for Egypt's Omar Marmoush. The deal would hand Roberto De Zerbi a different attacking option to anything currently in his squad.
Nothing has been finalised between the two clubs. But Marmoush could become the latest arrival in a Tottenham project that has already splashed 229.5 million on Jan-Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, plus a 75 million pound agreement with Manchester City for winger Savinho.
Behind the move lie two problems. Dominic Solanke has battled injuries for the past 18 months, and Richarlison has entered the final year of his contract, making a new striker a clear priority.
From Frankfurt star to a bit-part role at City
Marmoush arrived at Eintracht Frankfurt on a free transfer from Wolfsburg in May 2023. His first season delivered 17 goals across all competitions.
The Egyptian striker then hit another level. In the first half of the 2024-2025 campaign, he scored 15 goals in the German league from just 8.9 expected goals, adding 9 assists in 17 appearances.
By the time he left Germany, Marmoush had racked up 20 goals and 13 assists in 26 matches across all competitions. Manchester City paid 59 million pounds to sign him in January 2025.
Set pieces became another weapon. Marmoush turned into the first player in Europe's top five leagues since Lionel Messi in 2019 to score directly from a free-kick in 3 consecutive official matches.
A strong start then a decline in Manchester
Marmoush's first months with Manchester City carried positive signs, after he scored the first hat-trick of his career against Newcastle, then netted the winner against Bournemouth in the quarter-final of the FA Cup, before scoring from a long-range strike against the same opponent in the league, a goal that was voted the best of the season.
There was a low point, too. He missed a penalty against Crystal Palace in the 2025 FA Cup final after Erling Haaland handed him the ball, Dean Henderson saved his effort, and City lost at Wembley.
Nedum Onuoha, the former Manchester City defender, believes that moment should not sum up Marmoush's time with the club.
Speaking to "the BBC", Onuoha said: "When I see Marmoush, I don't remember the missed penalty, but rather I see the power he possesses in some of his runs in behind the defenders."
Why has his role at City declined?
Marmoush has scored 16 goals in 62 matches for Manchester City across all competitions since his move, including 8 goals in 36 matches during the 2025-2026 season.
His involvement in the Premier League, though, has clearly declined. He has started just 8 matches and played around 700 minutes, a lower tally than what he managed after arriving at the club midway through the previous season.
Three goals and three assists in the league tell only part of the story. His expected goals rate reached 3.53, a figure close to his actual tally, which suggests the problem was not solely about finishing chances.
Onuoha puts this down to the intense competition in City's attacking line, explaining that the positions Marmoush can play have become occupied by specialists. Haaland keeps the out-and-out striker role, he points out, while the team also leans on number 10s and wingers. That makes a move to Tottenham an outstanding opportunity for the Egyptian star.
What will Marmoush add to Tottenham?
Marmoush is a natural out-and-out striker, but that hasn't been his only role. At Frankfurt he played through the middle, as a second striker and off the left, while Manchester City deployed him centrally, on the wing and behind another forward.
That versatility could suit De Zerbi perfectly. His sides thrive on forwards swapping positions, dropping deep to collect the ball and then attacking the spaces that open up behind the opposition defence.
According to Onuoha, the best version of Marmoush comes to life when he gets in behind.
He said: "Although he is good when he drops towards the ball, I think he is better when he plays on the shoulder of the defender. He needs a team that constantly plays him into the spaces behind the defence and forces the opponent to run back towards their own goal."
Marmoush's numbers outshine Tottenham duo
According to Opta's data for the Premier League in the 2025-2026 season, Marmoush outperforms Dominic Solanke and Richarlison in most of the attacking metrics per 90 minutes, with the exception of aerial duels.
The Egyptian averaged 0.77 goals and assists, 3.86 shots, 1.55 chances created, 5.67 progressive carries, 1.29 successful dribbles, 6.82 touches in the penalty area and 11.46 runs in behind the defence.
Those numbers mark him out as a very different profile from Tottenham's current forwards. He carries the ball forward, takes on defenders and manufactures shooting chances for himself, and that could hand De Zerbi an extra weapon against sides that sit deep.
Onuoha said: "Sometimes it's just about how well a player fits into the team. Marmoush's ability to run in behind the defence and link up play could be very important for Tottenham. They won't hesitate to play balls in behind the defence and force the opponent to retreat."
Will Marmoush play alongside Solanke?
Marmoush's arrival need not spell the end for Solanke. The Egyptian's knack for playing behind another striker opens the door to fielding the pair together.
Solanke can bully defenders with his physical strength. Marmoush, meanwhile, drifts to the flanks or drops between the lines before bursting into the spaces the opposition's press leaves behind.
Onuoha reckons the contrast in their attributes could make them a complementary pairing. "Solanke is different from Marmoush, as he has a greater physical presence. I can imagine the goalkeeper playing a low ball to Solanke, while Marmoush comes in behind him to collect it, and that becomes the start of the attack."
"Each of them could complement the other," he added. "Playing with two strikers could bring out more of Marmoush's strengths."
