The story of Omar Marmoush at Manchester City was supposed to be simple. It was supposed to be about arrival, growth, trust, and success under Pep Guardiola. It was supposed to be the next step in a career that was rising fast across Europe. But football rarely follows the script people expect, and now, just twelve months after arriving at the Etihad Stadium with huge expectations, the future of the Egyptian forward is suddenly full of uncertainty, rumours, and difficult questions.
Omar Marmoush joined Manchester City in a deal that turned heads across Europe. The club paid around £65 million to sign him from Eintracht Frankfurt, a fee that showed how highly Guardiola rated him at the time. City were not flying high in the league when they made the move. They were sitting outside the top four, searching for energy, flexibility, and goals. Marmoush looked like the perfect answer. He was fast, direct, technically strong, and capable of playing across the front line. Most importantly, he was coming off an incredible run of form in Germany.
In the first half of his final season at Frankfurt, Marmoush was unstoppable. Goals, assists, constant movement, confidence flowing through every touch. He was involved in 34 goal contributions in just 26 matches, a number that caught the attention of Europe’s biggest clubs. Manchester City moved quickly, knowing that waiting until the summer could mean losing him to another giant. When he arrived in England midway through the season, many believed he would become another Guardiola success story.
His first months at City were not bad. He did not explode, but he contributed. Eleven goals and assists in 22 matches was a respectable return for a player adapting to a new league, a new country, and the most complex tactical system in world football. He looked useful, intelligent, and willing to learn. There was patience around him. Fans expected more to come. But football moves fast. And patience does not always last.
This season has been very different. Marmoush has struggled for minutes, rhythm, and confidence. While Manchester City have rotated heavily across competitions, he has often been the one watching from the bench. Starts have been rare. Opportunities even rarer. In the Premier League, his last start came back in August, during a defeat away at Brighton. Since then, his league involvement has been limited to substitute appearances that rarely last long enough to change games.
In all competitions this season, he has scored just once. That goal came in the EFL Cup against Swansea, a Championship side. For a forward who arrived with a big reputation and a big price tag, those numbers tell a painful story. It is not that Marmoush has suddenly become a bad player. It is that the situation around him has changed, and possibly moved on without him.
Manchester City’s form when he has started has not helped his case. The team have lost three of the four matches he has started this season across all competitions. Fair or not, statistics like that matter at elite clubs. Guardiola is ruthless when it comes to decisions. He looks at training, tactical fit, chemistry, and results. If something does not work, he changes it quickly.
The January transfer window has made the situation even more complicated. City have already moved in the market, signing Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for a fee rising above £62 million. Semenyo is powerful, aggressive, and offers something different. His arrival has been seen by many as a clear signal. Competition has increased, and Marmoush’s path back into the starting eleven looks even narrower.
Despite this, Marmoush is not a forgotten man on the international stage. While struggling for minutes at club level, he has been delivering for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Representing his country with pride, he has shown confidence and sharpness, scoring his second goal of the tournament in the quarter-final against Ivory Coast. That goal helped send Egypt into the semi-finals and reminded everyone watching that the talent is still there.
International football has often been Marmoush’s escape. When club football feels heavy, the national shirt gives him freedom. He plays with belief, responsibility, and hunger. Watching him for Egypt, it is hard to believe he is a player struggling to make an impact in England. This contrast has only added fuel to the transfer rumours now surrounding him.
Several Premier League clubs are watching closely. Aston Villa have emerged as the strongest link. Under Unai Emery, Villa are enjoying one of their best seasons in years. They are sitting near the top of the table, competing in Europe, and playing with confidence and structure. Emery is known for improving players, especially those who feel overlooked or stuck. If Donyell Malen leaves the club, as some reports suggest, Villa could find themselves short in attack.
Marmoush fits the profile. He can play as a striker, behind the striker, or drifting in from the left. He presses, he runs channels, and he links play. At Villa, he would not be asked to compete with world-class depth every week. He would be trusted. He would be needed. And sometimes, that is all a player requires to rediscover their best form.
Tottenham are also mentioned, though the situation there is more complicated. Spurs have had a difficult season, dropping deep into the bottom half of the table. Injuries, inconsistency, and lack of confidence have damaged momentum. They are not short of attacking options on paper, but few are delivering consistently. Dominic Solanke, Richarlison, Mathys Tel, and Randal Kolo Muani have all struggled with fitness or form.
In theory, Marmoush could help. His energy and movement could suit Tottenham’s style. But questions remain about whether Spurs can offer the stability and structure he needs right now. A move there would be risky. It could either restart his career or deepen the uncertainty.
Newcastle United are another club keeping an eye on him. Eddie Howe’s side are still competing on multiple fronts and are desperate to strengthen their squad for the final stretch of the season. They are chasing a top-four finish and need depth to manage injuries and fixture congestion. Marmoush could offer flexibility and rotation, but again, the question is minutes. Would he play enough? Would he feel trusted?
What makes this situation so interesting is Marmoush’s contract. He still has three and a half years left at Manchester City. There is no pressure to sell. City do not need the money. This is not a forced exit. If he leaves, it will be because the club believes it is the right football decision for both sides.
And that may be the hardest truth to accept. Sometimes, a transfer does not fail because of quality. It fails because of timing, fit, and opportunity. Guardiola’s system demands perfection. There is little room for hesitation. Players must understand space, movement, and positioning instinctively. Some players adapt instantly. Others need time. Marmoush may simply have arrived at a moment when City were already evolving again.
For Marmoush himself, the coming weeks could define his career. At 26, he is entering his prime years. Sitting on the bench cannot be an option for long. He needs football. He needs responsibility. He needs to feel important again. Whether that comes at Manchester City or elsewhere remains unclear.
There is no shame in stepping away from a superclub if it leads to growth. Many players have done it. What matters is the next decision. Choose the wrong project, and confidence can disappear completely. Choose the right one, and a career can rise again stronger than before.
As the January window moves forward, the noise will only grow louder. Speculation, rumours, opinions. Fans will debate. Pundits will judge. But for Omar Marmoush, the reality is deeply personal. This is about belief, opportunity, and the simple desire to play football freely again.
One year ago, he arrived in Manchester with dreams of trophies and history. Today, he stands at a crossroads. The next move may not just decide his season. It may decide the story of his career.And football, as always, is watching.
