The January transfer window is notorious for its late-night drama and unexpected twists, and this year, the spotlight has shifted firmly onto North London. Tottenham Hotspur is reportedly making a serious move for Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush.
With the transfer deadline fast approaching, Spurs find themselves in a race against time to secure a player who has already earned the highest praise from some of the most respected figures in the game. While the 26-year-old forward has had a stop-start campaign in Manchester, the underlying belief in his “special” talent remains unshaken among his peers and former mentors.
To understand why Marmoush is such a coveted asset, one has to look back at his meteoric rise. It was only last January that Pep Guardiola sanctioned a £59 million move to bring the Egyptian international to the Etihad Stadium.
At the time, Marmoush was coming off an incredible run at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he had terrorized Bundesliga defenses with 37 goals in just 67 appearances. He was brought in to fill the significant void left by Julian Alvarez, and he didn’t disappoint.
His impact was immediate, finishing his debut half-season with seven goals in 16 league appearances, looking every bit like the world-class attacker City expected him to be.
However, the current season has been a test of patience for both the player and the club. A lingering knee injury, followed by his international commitments at the Africa Cup of Nations, meant that Marmoush fell out of the regular starting rotation.
It wasn’t until last weekend’s clash against Wolves that he finally registered his first league goal of the season. This slow start, combined with City’s recent acquisition of Antoine Semenyo, has opened a door that many thought would remain bolted shut.
Rumors of a £26 million move to Tottenham have intensified, suggesting that Spurs might be able to pick up a high-value talent for a significantly reduced fee.
Despite the lack of recent goals, the respect for Marmoush’s ability remains sky-high. Perhaps the most telling endorsement comes from his current teammate, Erling Haaland. The Norwegian superstar, who rarely hands out empty compliments, was struck by Marmoush’s quality from the very first day they trained together.
Haaland noted that the Egyptian has “something special” in his game a unique blend of athleticism and technical skill that is rare even at the highest level of the Premier League. Haaland’s insistence that Marmoush would become a “fantastic player” for City serves as a warning to anyone doubting the striker’s potential.
But Haaland isn’t the only one who sees the greatness in Marmoush. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has long been a vocal supporter of the striker. The two first worked together at Wolfsburg when Marmoush was just beginning his journey in European football.
Even back then, Glasner was convinced that the forward had the tools to become one of the top strikers in the world. What impressed Glasner most wasn’t just the raw speed or the clinical finishing, but the player’s character and dedication.
He famously pointed out that Marmoush had mastered the German language in record time, a feat he considered unusual and a sign of the player’s high intelligence and adaptability.
Glasner’s belief in Marmoush has been vindicated by the player’s career path. While it wasn’t a perfectly straight line to the top involving various loan spells at St. Pauli and Stuttgart each step served to sharpen his skills.
By the time he reached Frankfurt and later Manchester City, he had developed into a multi-faceted forward who could lead the line or play as a secondary attacker. This versatility is exactly what Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is looking for as he seeks to add more dynamism to his frontline.
| Stat Category | Omar Marmoush (Frankfurt) | Omar Marmoush (Man City) |
| Appearances | 67 | 20 (approx.) |
| Goals | 37 | 8 |
| Strike Rate | 0.55 goals/game | 0.40 goals/game |
| Key Passes per 90 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
For Tottenham, the logic behind the move is clear. They need a player who can provide a different dimension to their attack someone with the flair to match their tenacity.
Marmoush offers a perfect counterpoint to a more fixed striker like Dominic Solanke. His ability to drift into wide areas, take players on in one-on-one situations, and link play from deep makes him a nightmare for defenders to track. If Spurs can finalize this deal for the rumored £26 million, they aren’t just buying a backup; they are buying a potential superstar who has already proven he can thrive under the brightest lights.
As the deadline looms, the pressure is on the ENIC Group to push the deal over the line. Signing a player who carries the personal “seal of approval” from both Erling Haaland and Oliver Glasner is a rare opportunity. Marmoush is a player who has faced adversity, overcome injuries, and consistently proven his doubters wrong.
Whether he ends up in the white of Tottenham or stays to fight for his place in Manchester, one thing is certain: the “special” qualities that Haaland spotted on day one aren’t going anywhere. Tottenham fans will be hoping those qualities are on display at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before the window slams shut.
