Omar Marmoush’s transfer demands to Aston Villa laid out amid Manchester City exit update
Omar Marmoush will lay down terms that Aston Villa must meet to agree a January switch.
Marmoush has been linked to Villa in the past, and rumours have begun to spiral again this winter after a hugely disappointing campaign so far at Manchester City.
There have been plenty of transfer links at Villa Park in recent weeks, with Alysson already joining Villa from Gremio.
The Egypt international is the latest to be linked, just months after Marmoush gave Matty Cash a torrid time at the Etihad.
The Villans could make a swoop for Marmoush before the end of the window, but only if Unai Emery and Co. match his demands.
Omar Marmoush needs regular minutes at Aston Villa
Ollie Watkins has come to life for Villa in recent weeks, netting four goals in his past three games after such a difficult first half of the campaign.
The England international has picked up where the form of the likes of Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendia has dropped off slightly.
His goals against Chelsea and Nottingham Forest were hugely important, so adding another talented attacker into that mix could be a risk.
Players with the quality of Marmoush aren’t always available like he seems to be, so there is a dilemma for the Villans to assess.
Former Villa scout Bryan King believes the City man will want to be a regular starter in claret and blue, something which Emery may not be able to offer.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, King said: “I think Villa are quite well equipped with Watkins and Malen with Rogers behind them.
“It’s ok to bring in someone like that as a squad player. He would be a good addition to the club to help take the pressure off the other attackers.
“They’ve already made loan moves with Sancho and Elliott, and neither of those has clicked, so there is a concern there.
“If you were going to bring in Marmoush, you know his quality, and he’s better than what they’ve got.
“It will all depend on how much game time he’s demanding, and with the World Cup coming up, he needs to be playing to be picked internationally.
“He is a top-quality player, you don’t join Manchester City because you’re a bad player.“
How good has Marmoush been for Manchester City?
It is strange to see a big-money signing thrive at a side like City before becoming a bit-part player within 12 months.
Marmoush scored eight and assisted one in his first half-season at the Etihad before being reduced to just two Premier League starts this campaign.
Pep Guardiola has opted to prioritise the likes of Rayan Cherki, Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden in forward areas.
Last season, his stats compare similarly to Watkins’ and reflect a positive spell for the Egyptian with an average of 0.53 goals per game on top of 1.14 chances created.
Marmouh completed 1.52 dribbles and won 4.42 duels in the process, all stats that could take an up-turn with Emery in his corner.
If the Villans could reach an agreement with the City outcast, it could prove to be a stellar deal for the B6 outfit.
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