Aston Villa Chasing Man City Star To Continue Elite Reclamation Trend: Can Emery Unlock This High-Ceiling Forward? | OneFootball

Aston Villa are reportedly chasing Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush. They want to take advantage of the Egyptian international’s frustration over his lack of playing time at the Etihad.

According to a new report from Dean Jones via TEAMtalk, the Villans are seriously looking into a deal for the 26-year-old. They are now competing with Tottenham Hotspur for his signature.

The report suggests that Spurs have already made initial enquiries. However, Villa have now jumped into the mix. They see Marmoush as the perfect player to add some spark to their attack.

The background of this potential move is interesting. Marmoush has struggled to get Premier League starts under Pep Guardiola. He is still a high-potential talent, and the Villa hierarchy believe he just needs the right environment to succeed.

Jones notes that Villa Park has become a bit of a recovery spot for top-tier players who have lost their way. He points to the club’s recent success in getting the careers of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Harvey Elliott back on track. The journalist suggests that Villa fancy Marmoush to be next in this line of comeback stories.

However, several things stand in the way of a deal. Jones adds that Manchester City are currently not receptive to losing the forward mid-season. Tottenham’s interest has made City even firmer on this. City do not want to help out a direct rival.

Analysis: Can Emery Unlock Marmoush for Aston Villa?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 25: Omar Marmoush of Manchester City is tackled by Jeanuel Belocian of Bayer Leverkusen during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Manchester City and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at City of Manchester Stadium on November 25, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Omar Marmoush is exactly the kind of forward who does well under Unai Emery. The Egyptian has great pace and works hard to pressure defenders. Emery’s high-energy system needs these qualities. Unlike a standard target man, Marmoush is versatile.

He can play anywhere across the front three or as a second striker. This will let him swap positions with Ollie Watkins or move wide to find space behind the defence. The Egyptian’s dribbling and ability to run with the ball will give Villa a different look on the break. This will benefit the team, especially in games where opponents force them to play on the counter.

However, there are still questions about his finishing. While he works incredibly hard, critics sometimes point out that Marmoush can be inconsistent in front of the goal. Villa might make this problem worse if they expect him to be their main goalscorer.

On top of that, getting Manchester City to sell in January is a huge challenge. Guardiola usually likes to keep his squad together during the winter. Selling to a top-four rival like Villa is a big risk.

The chances of a January move look low; maybe around 30%. That probably won’t change unless the player tries to force a move. A summer transfer seems more likely. Still, if Villa make a massive offer now, they might convince City to sell a player whose value could drop.