Pep Guardiola approval awaited as Barcelona circle for Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush | OneFootball

Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush is attracting interest from the Spotify Camp Nou ahead of the summer transfer window, as per a new report.

The 27-year-old scored a fantastic, decisive brace in a 3-1 comeback win over Newcastle United at the weekend to spearhead his side into the FA Cup quarter-final.

After a subdued start to his first full season at the Etihad Stadium, Marmoush has impressed since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations and has provided Manchester City a reliable goalscoring avenue other than Erling Haaland.

The Egypt international was linked with a departure from Manchester City in January amid interest from Tottenham and it is understood that Marmoush would be open to a new chapter in the upcoming transfer window too.

Why is Omar Marmoush keeping his options open?

A lack of regular minutes. Marmoush had good reason to be frustrated with how little he played or started for City before the New Year, with Guardiola leaning on the likes of Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden to support Haaland.

At 27, Marmoush is in his prime years and would not want another season as a back-up option as Manchester City progress their squad rebuild under director of football Hugo Viana, who also added Antoine Semenyo to Guardiola’s ranks in January.

Semenyo has made an outstanding start to life in the north-west since joining from Bournemouth and the 26-year-old is already one of the first names on the teamsheet – alongside fellow January signing Marc Guehi.

With Haaland and Semenyo occupying two of the three attacking spots for City, Marmoush is vying for the third place with all of Phil Foden, Savinho, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku.

Who is interested in signing Omar Marmoush from Manchester City?

Barcelona are shortlisted Marmoush as a potential addition in the summer transfer window as they plan for life beyond Robert Lewandowski, who is expected to leave at the end of the season, as reported by Pol Ballus of The Athletic. However, no formal talks have been conducted behind the scenes for the Manchester City star just yet.

Lewandowski is not expected to renew his contract and while Barcelona’s primary target is former Manchester City striker and current Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez, the Catalan outfit will likely not be able to meet the finances involved in a deal for the Argentina international.

Marmoush will also have suitors based elsewhere in Europe as clubs in the continent continue to monitor his improved form for Manchester City, who signed the Egyptian from Eintracht Frankfurt for £59 million in January 2025.

Guardiola has hailed Marmoush’s recent goalscoring form as Manchester City need every bit of help they can get to continue their quest for an unprecedented quadruple and in particular, to cut down a seven-point deficit to Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Could Omar Marmoush indeed leave Manchester City this summer?

Marmoush could leave Manchester City in the summer if he is offered a greater guarantee of regular first-team football elsewhere, particularly if Barcelona comes to the negotiating table.

Barcelona – or any other suitor for that matter – would need to cough up what Manchester City deem is a market value figure for Marmoush, who is currently contracted at the Etihad Stadium till the summer of 2029.

There remain question marks over Guardiola’s own future in Manchester following a flurry of reports in the English press citing a growing belief among Premier League circles that the Manchester City manager could be set for an exit this summer – a year ahead of the expiration of his contract.

However, Guardiola’s recent comments indicate he will honour the final year of his deal and it will only be after the Catalan signs off on a sale for Marmoush that club bosses will entertain an offer for the forward, who is perhaps too good for a bit-part role at Manchester City.