Barcelona eye €65M Manchester City forward as possible Robert Lewandowski replacement | OneFootball

Barcelona are the frontrunners in the race to sign Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush in the upcoming transfer window, as per reports.

The 27-year-old arrived at the Etihad Stadium from Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt on a four-and-a-half-year deal in January 2025.

Despite not ranking high on Pep Guardiola’s pecking order this season, it appears that the Egyptian star’s impressive displays for Manchester City have attracted interest from several other clubs.

In a press conference ahead of a friendly against Spain in March, Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan heaped praise on Marmoush, mentioning that he deserves to play in La Liga in the future.

How has Marmoush fared at Man City?

Following his arrival to City in January 2025, Marmoush started in 20 out of the 25 appearances he made across competitions for Manchester City in the second half of the previous campaign, netting eight goals and providing three assists.

However, his game-time saw a steep decline since the beginning of this season, especially in the Premier League, where he has been named in the starting XI just eight times in 21 appearances.

Overall, the former Wolfsburg star has received 15 starts in 35 appearances in all competitions, registering eight goals and three assists for the Blues this campaign.

Prior to joining the English side, Marmoush recorded 37 goals and 20 assists in 67 games during his one-and-a-half year tenure at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Barca eye Marmoush as Lewandowski replacement

Barcelona are keen on acquiring Marmoush’s signature this summer and the Catalan club’s interest in the Manchester City attacker comes amid their search for a potential replacement for Robert Lewandowski, as reported by journalist Mark Brus.

The 37-year-old Polish star’s contract at the Spotify Camp Nou will expire in June and he will leave Barcelona as a free agent, with an official announcement made by the club last week.

The Blaugrana have also been heavily linked with Atletico Madrid and former Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez for a while now.

However, reports have suggested that the Argentine forward would come with a higher price tag, making Marmoush stand out as a more suitable transfer prospect for the Spanish outfit.

Are Man City open to parting ways with Marmoush?

Despite being in England for over 15 months, Marmoush has been unable to establish a regular spot in City’s starting XI, leading to doubts about his long-term future at the Etihad Stadium.

City’s hierarchy are believed to be re-evaluating the forward’s role in the squad, along with his market value, with regard to a possible sale this summer.

With his contract valid until June 2029, Marmoush is not expected to actively seek a move away from City; however, the possibility is anticipated, considering the Egyptian’s decreasing minutes on the pitch.

City, meanwhile, are expected to be open to parting ways with him, especially if that aligns with the Egyptian’s decision, for a suitable offer in the range of €60-65 million.

The aforementioned report suggested that a potential meeting between Manchester City and Marmoush to discuss his future at the club may take place at the end of the season.

Which other clubs are interested in Man City’s Marmoush?

Alongside Barcelona, Marmoush has also attracted the attention of Atletico Madrid, as per a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes.

Tottenham and Aston Villa have previously been linked with the Manchester City star, with further developments expected in the summer transfer window.

Marmoush could also be open to a return to the Bundesliga, especially with his extensive prior experience at Wolfsburg, FC St. Pauli, VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt.

With no official offers from Barcelona or other clubs on the table as of yet, it remains to be seen what lies in store for the Egypt international ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.