Report: Aston Villa considering move to sign £59m Man City star | OneFootball

Aston Villa Eye January Opportunity in Omar Marmoush Situation

Aston Villa’s reported interest in Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush adds another intriguing layer to what is shaping up to be a complex January transfer window. As first reported by TeamTalk, Villa are actively exploring a deal for the Egypt international, even as Tottenham Hotspur have already made enquiries and Manchester City remain reluctant sellers.

Marmoush arrived at the Etihad Stadium in January 2025 from Eintracht Frankfurt for £59million, signing a contract that runs until the summer of 2029. On paper, this was a long term investment by Pep Guardiola’s side, but his first year has not unfolded as many expected. Nine goals and four assists from 40 appearances suggests contribution, yet context matters when those numbers are paired with limited starts in key competitions.

Limited Role at Manchester City

Guardiola has handed Marmoush just two Premier League starts and only one in the Champions League this season, a clear signal of his current standing within an elite and crowded attacking group. That lack of consistent opportunity has inevitably fuelled speculation, particularly for a player entering what should be his prime years at 26.

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TeamTalk transfer insider Dean Jones provided valuable insight into Villa’s thinking, stating, “There are whispers emerging out of Egypt that Aston Villa are making a move for Marmoush.” He added, “His game time at Man City hasn’t been what he would have hoped, and we have reported that Villa are on the lookout for another player for the front line to give them a better chance of sustaining the form they have shown recently.”

Villa’s recent track record of revitalising attacking careers has not gone unnoticed across the Premier League. Jones highlighted this trend by saying, “As a club that have tried to bring Rashford and Sancho and Elliott back to life in the Premier League, it is reasonable to imagine that they fancy Marmoush to be next.”

Tottenham Interest and City Resistance

Tottenham’s involvement complicates matters. Thomas Frank’s side have already made enquiries, but Jones was clear on City’s position, noting, “We have also been told recently, though, that Man City do not want to lose Marmoush.” He went further by suggesting City’s reluctance would be even stronger if the buyer were Villa, “who are an even bigger threat to them this season.”

That stance aligns with earlier reporting from TeamTalk’s Fraser Fletcher, who stated Guardiola “is expected to resist any departure, valuing Marmoush’s role in squad rotation during a congested fixture list.”

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From an Aston Villa supporter’s perspective, this report feels both ambitious and logical. Villa fans have watched their club evolve into a side that no longer shops purely for potential, but for players who can elevate the squad immediately. Marmoush fits that profile. At 26, he brings experience from Germany, England, and the international stage, yet still feels like a player with something to prove.

There is also an understanding among Villa supporters that breaking into Manchester City’s starting XI is one of the hardest tasks in modern football. Limited minutes under Guardiola do not automatically translate into limited quality. Many at Villa Park would view Marmoush’s nine goals and four assists as a foundation rather than a ceiling, especially given his lack of consistent starts.

The concern, of course, revolves around feasibility. City’s reluctance to sell mid season, combined with Tottenham’s interest, suggests any deal would be expensive and politically sensitive. Yet Villa fans have grown accustomed to their club operating confidently in these spaces. The idea of adding a versatile forward capable of rotating across the front line, while pushing existing starters to higher levels, is hugely appealing.

Ultimately, this feels like a statement of intent more than a simple transfer rumour. Whether or not it materialises, Aston Villa being mentioned in the same breath as City and Spurs for a £59million forward says plenty about where the club now stands.