Tottenham are pushing to sign Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush, with discussions between the two Premier League clubs continuing.
A deal has not yet been completed, but the Egypt international could become another major addition to Roberto De Zerbi’s squad. If the move goes through, Spurs’ summer spending is expected to move beyond the £300m mark.
The north London club have already invested £229.5m in centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke and midfielders Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes. On Friday, Tottenham also agreed a £75m transfer for Manchester City winger Savinho as De Zerbi continues reshaping his attacking options.
There are clear reasons for Spurs to consider another forward. Dominic Solanke has struggled with injuries during the past 18 months, while Richarlison is now entering the final year of his contract.
Marmoush has become less prominent at Manchester City, but his numbers suggest Tottenham would be signing a forward with qualities that differ from those currently available to De Zerbi.
Marmoush’s rise at Frankfurt earned him a move to Manchester City
Marmoush joined Eintracht Frankfurt from Wolfsburg on a free transfer in May 2023. At 24, he quickly settled into his new surroundings and scored 17 goals in all competitions during his first campaign with the German club.
His performances improved further during the opening half of the 2024-25 season. Marmoush scored 15 Bundesliga goals from an expected goals figure of 8.9 and supplied nine assists across 17 league matches.
By the time he left Germany, he had recorded 20 goals and 13 assists in 26 appearances in all competitions.
His threat was not limited to open play. Marmoush also became highly effective from set pieces. He was the first player in Europe’s five leading leagues since Lionel Messi in 2019 to score directly from a free-kick in three successive competitive games.
That form persuaded Manchester City to pay £59m for him in January 2025.
His introduction to English football contained several memorable moments. Marmoush registered the first hat-trick of his professional career against Newcastle, scored the decisive goal in City’s FA Cup quarter-final against Bournemouth and later found the net from distance against the same opponent in the Premier League.
That long-range strike was eventually selected as the goal of the season.
Not every moment went in his favour. During the 2025 FA Cup final against Crystal Palace, City were behind when Erling Haaland allowed Marmoush to take a penalty. Dean Henderson saved his effort and Palace went on to win at Wembley.
Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha believes that missed penalty should not dominate the assessment of Marmoush’s time at the club. Instead, he points to the Egyptian’s physical qualities and his ability to attack spaces behind defensive lines.
Why Marmoush gradually lost his place at City
Since arriving from Frankfurt, Marmoush has scored 16 goals across 62 appearances for Manchester City in all competitions.
Eight of those goals came from 36 matches during the 2025-26 campaign, although his role in Premier League games became noticeably smaller.
He started only eight league matches and accumulated around 700 minutes. That was fewer than he had managed after joining City halfway through the previous season.
Marmoush finished the league campaign with three goals and three assists. His expected goals total stood at 3.53, which was close to his actual output, indicating that poor finishing was not the main reason behind his reduced influence.
Instead, competition for places became increasingly difficult.
City’s attack remains centred around Erling Haaland, whose position as the main number nine is rarely questioned. Pep Guardiola also has several options in attacking midfield and traditionally asks his wide players to remain close to the touchline.
According to Onuoha, that leaves Marmoush in an awkward position because many of the roles he can perform are already occupied by players who specialise in them.
He can operate as a striker, play from the left or work behind another forward, but Manchester City’s tactical structure has not always provided the freedom necessary to make full use of that versatility.
What Marmoush could add to De Zerbi’s Tottenham
Marmoush is naturally suited to playing as a number nine, although his career shows that he does not need to remain permanently in the centre.
At Eintracht Frankfurt he spent most of his time through the middle, but he also featured as a second striker and occasionally moved to the left side. Manchester City have used him in similar ways, placing him centrally, on the flank and behind another attacker.
That adaptability could appeal to De Zerbi.
His teams regularly ask attacking players to interchange positions, move towards the ball and then exploit spaces created when defenders are tempted forward. Marmoush has experience performing both parts of that role.
Onuoha believes the Egyptian becomes particularly dangerous when he stays close to the shoulder of the last defender and looks for opportunities to sprint into open space.
Although Marmoush is capable of dropping deeper to receive possession, Onuoha feels his stronger qualities emerge when a team repeatedly looks to play passes behind the opposition defence.
In that situation, defenders are forced to turn towards their own goal, giving Marmoush the chance to use his acceleration and direct running.
The numbers show a different profile from Solanke and Richarlison
Opta statistics from last season highlight similarities between Marmoush and Tottenham’s existing strikers in one area, but also reveal several important differences.
Marmoush averaged 11.46 runs behind defensive lines per 90 Premier League minutes. Solanke posted a slightly higher figure of 11.61, while Richarlison averaged 10.03.
The bigger contrast appears when Marmoush has possession.
He produced 5.67 progressive carries per 90 minutes, comfortably above Solanke’s 3.24 and Richarlison’s 2.48.
Marmoush was also ahead of both Tottenham forwards in several attacking categories, including shots, chances created, successful dribbles and touches inside the opposition penalty area.
He averaged 3.86 shots per 90 minutes. Richarlison registered 2.81 and Solanke 1.80.
When it came to creating opportunities for team-mates, Marmoush averaged 1.55 chances per 90, compared with 0.92 for Richarlison and just 0.54 for Solanke.
His combined goals and assists rate also compared favourably. Marmoush recorded 0.77 per game, ahead of Richarlison’s 0.69 and significantly higher than Solanke’s 0.27.
There is an important qualification because Marmoush played considerably fewer league minutes, meaning his statistical sample is smaller.
Even so, the numbers point towards a clear type of attacker. He is more willing to carry possession forward, confront defenders directly and create his own shooting opportunities than Tottenham’s current central forwards.
Marmoush could offer Spurs another solution against deep defences
Those characteristics could become especially useful in matches where opponents defend close to their own penalty area.
Tottenham may not always have large spaces available for direct attacks. Against compact defensive blocks, Marmoush’s ability to carry the ball, beat an opponent and manufacture a shot could provide De Zerbi with another route towards goal.
Onuoha believes the tactical fit at Tottenham might therefore prove more favourable than the one Marmoush currently has at Manchester City.
Spurs under De Zerbi are unlikely to hesitate when opportunities appear to play forward quickly. Repeated passes into space could give Marmoush the type of attacking situations in which he has previously looked most dangerous.
His ability to combine those runs with link play could also make Tottenham less predictable, particularly if the opposition tries to press high.
Could Marmoush and Solanke play together?
Signing Marmoush would not automatically mean pushing Solanke out of Tottenham’s starting line-up.
The Egyptian has previous experience playing alongside another striker, which could allow De Zerbi to use both forwards at the same time.
Solanke could remain centrally and occupy opposition centre-backs, while Marmoush moves into wider channels or drops into areas between midfield and defence.
That combination could become particularly effective when Tottenham attempt to play through pressure.
Solanke provides a more physical presence and can receive direct passes with defenders close to him. Marmoush could position himself underneath or around the striker, collect second balls and immediately attack the space beyond the opposition midfield.
Onuoha believes that difference between the two forwards could make them complementary rather than direct rivals.
One possible pattern would see Tottenham play a flatter pass towards Solanke, allowing him to hold off a defender before Marmoush receives the next ball and accelerates into attack.
A system containing two forwards could therefore highlight qualities that Marmoush has not always been able to show consistently at Manchester City.
For Tottenham, the key question is not simply whether Marmoush is talented enough. His record at Frankfurt and his flashes of quality in England have already demonstrated that.
The more important issue is whether De Zerbi can give him a role that suits his movement, running power and preference for attacking space. If Spurs can provide that environment, Marmoush could offer something noticeably different from their existing forwards while also giving the manager additional tactical flexibility.
