Omar Marmoush, the Manchester City forward, is reportedly attracting attention from FC Barcelona ahead of the summer transfer window.
The 27-year-old player recently made headlines by netting a crucial brace during the 3-1 comeback victory against Newcastle United this past weekend, propelling his team into the FA Cup quarter-finals.
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After a slow start in his first full season at the Etihad Stadium, Marmoush has shown remarkable improvement since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations, providing a dependable scoring option alongside Erling Haaland.
In January, the Egypt international was rumored to be leaving Manchester City amid interest from Tottenham, and it appears he is also open to a fresh opportunity during the upcoming transfer window.
Why is Omar Marmoush Considering His Options?
Marmoush’s frustration stems from a lack of consistent playing time; before the New Year, he found himself on the bench more often than not, as Guardiola relied on Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, and Phil Foden to support Haaland.
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At 27, Marmoush is in his peak playing years and likely seeks more than a backup role while Manchester City continues its squad renovation under director of football Hugo Viana, who recently added Antoine Semenyo to the lineup.
Semenyo has had an impressive start in the northwest since his arrival from Bournemouth, quickly becoming a key player alongside fellow January signing Marc Guehi.
With Haaland and Semenyo filling two of the three attacking roles for City, Marmoush is competing with Phil Foden, Savinho, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, and Jeremy Doku for the remaining spot.
“Outstanding performance” – Omar Marmoush creates a major dilemma for Pep Guardiola after his match-winning brace.
Who’s Interested in Acquiring Omar Marmoush?
Barcelona has listed Marmoush as a potential target for the summer window as they consider life after Robert Lewandowski, who is anticipated to depart at the season’s end, according to Pol Ballus of The Athletic. However, there have been no formal discussions regarding the Manchester City star just yet.
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Lewandowski is not expected to extend his contract, and while Barcelona’s primary focus is on former Manchester City player Julian Alvarez, currently at Atletico Madrid, it may not be financially feasible for them to secure the Argentine.
Moreover, Marmoush may find interest from several other clubs across Europe, as teams keep an eye on his resurgence at Manchester City, who signed him from Eintracht Frankfurt for £59 million in January 2025.
Guardiola has praised Marmoush’s recent scoring ability as the team aims to continue their pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple, particularly with an urgent need to close the seven-point gap trailing Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Could Omar Marmoush Leave Manchester City This Summer?
Should Marmoush be presented with a chance for regular first-team action elsewhere, especially from Barcelona, he might consider leaving Manchester City this summer.
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Any potential suitors, including Barcelona, would need to meet Manchester City’s valuation for Marmoush, who is contracted at the Etihad until the summer of 2029.
There are also uncertainties regarding Guardiola’s future at Manchester City, with reports circulating in the English media suggesting a possible exit for him this summer, a year before his contract is set to expire.
However, Guardiola has indicated that he intends to fulfill the last year of his deal, and it will only be after he approves any sale of Marmoush that club executives will consider offers for the forward, who may not be suited for a secondary role at Manchester City.