Can Omar Marmoush help halt the malaise at Man City?
Man City have got their man – but will it make a difference?
In a season of turmoil, Pep Guardiola’s club have spent big in the January transfer window, paying £59m for forward Omar Marmoush.
Marmoush has 20 goals and 14 assists already
Besides Marmoush, the Manchester side have also signed two defenders in Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens, and Vitor Reis from Palmeiras.
That’s as well as convincing Erling Haaland to extend his contract with the club; the Norwegian striker inked a new deal that will keep him at City until 2034.
On the face of it, it’s all positive news. So is Marmoush the player to turn City’s season around? There’s little doubt he’s had a great campaign for Eintracht Frankfurt, the Egyptian international scoring 20 goals and making 14 assists so far this season in all competitions.
The 25-year-old’s outstanding play has helped propel the Bundesliga side to third in the league table. Will he be able to help his new club reach such lofty heights? Guardiola’s side currently find themselves in the unfamiliar position of fifth in the Premier League.
It’s been a challenging few months for Pep. In November, the side lost four back-to-back league games. But there have been positives in recent weeks, with the side unbeaten in the Prem since Boxing Day.
Can Marmoush quickly establish himself?
And having seen his side trounce Ipswich 6-0 at Portman Road last Sunday, Guardiola said his players were “back to doing things that define this team”.
Yet on Wednesday in the Champions League, the dominant City of previous campaigns were humbled.
Whilst the Manchester side took a 2-0 lead against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes, the hosts would hit back, scoring four goals as the rain pelted down to crush City’s fragile revival.
The side now find themselves needing to win their final group stage game to avoid elimination from the Champions League, even if few would expect them to struggle in next week’s decisive home game against Club Brugge.
So can Marmoush establish himself quickly at his new club? The 25-year-old has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal that will keep him at City until 2029.
A versatile attacking player able to operate on the wings or as a centre forward, could Marmoush take some of the pressure off Erling Haaland?
While the Norwegian has 17 league goals in this campaign, City’s next highest scorer is Phil Foden with a modest six league goals. Kevin De Bruyne has found the net twice, while Jack Grealish is yet to score in the Prem this season.
Marmoush could make his debut for City against Chelsea this weekend. The Citizens are currently 27/25 to beat the Blues.
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