adminErling Haaland’s ‘special’ verdict on Tottenham target who bonded with Oliver Glasner
Omar Marmoush is reportedly emerging as a January transfer target for Tottenham Hotspur, with the North London club considering a late move for the Manchester City forward as the deadline rapidly approaches. Spurs are said to be monitoring the situation closely, though time is running out to strike a deal.
The 26-year-old joined City last January in a £59 million move sanctioned by Pep Guardiola following a prolific spell at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he scored 37 goals in 67 appearances.
Signed to help fill the void left by Julian Alvarez’s departure, Marmoush made an immediate impact after arriving at the Etihad.
He finished last season with seven goals from 16 Premier League matches and appeared poised to play a major role this campaign.
However, his momentum has been disrupted. Marmoush had to wait until last weekend’s meeting with Wolves to register his first league goal of the season, sparking renewed speculation about his long-term future.
That appearance was only his third league start of the campaign, following recovery from a knee injury and international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
City’s recent acquisition of Antoine Semenyo has further fuelled talk that Marmoush could be allowed to leave, with Tottenham among several clubs reportedly interested in a deal valued around £26 million.
Despite his slow start this term, the Egyptian international has received strong backing from high-profile figures, including Erling Haaland and Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner.
Haaland hails Marmoush as “special”
Marmoush made his City debut just days after signing, featuring in a 3–1 victory over Chelsea. Although he did not score, Haaland was quick to highlight his qualities.
“In the first half especially, you could see he has something special,” Haaland said after the match. “There’s a reason City signed him — he has that extra quality.”
The Norwegian added that integrating Marmoush quickly was crucial, given the packed schedule ahead. “It’s about building confidence and understanding as soon as possible.
He’s going to be a fantastic player for us,” Haaland said. He also pointed to Marmoush’s excellent form in Germany and expressed hope that it would carry over into the second half of the season with City.
Glasner’s long-standing admiration
Marmoush’s relationship with Oliver Glasner dates back to his early professional years at Wolfsburg.
The forward made his senior debut in 2020 under Glasner, registering 10 appearances before being loaned out to St Pauli and Stuttgart to gain experience.
Although Marmoush was still developing at the time, Glasner was convinced of his potential. The pair stayed in touch after their Wolfsburg stint, and the Palace boss has repeatedly praised both the player’s talent and character.
“He has everything needed to become one of the top strikers in the world,” Glasner said ahead of Palace’s clash with City last season. “From the first training session, you could see his ability.”
Glasner also highlighted Marmoush’s professionalism off the pitch, noting how unusual it was for a young foreign player to master the German language so quickly. “You could tell he’s a great person with all the skills required,” he added.
Reflecting on Marmoush’s journey, Glasner acknowledged that success rarely follows a straight path.
After loans, steady progress at Wolfsburg and a standout season at Frankfurt, Marmoush has shown at City the type of striker he can become. “I’m really happy for him,” Glasner said — before jokingly adding — “but not tomorrow!”
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