Pep Guardiola gives green light to Omar Marmoush’s January departure from Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has reportedly agreed to let Omar Marmoush leave Manchester City in the current winter transfer window, opening the door for a high-profile move to Turkey for the 26-year-old Egyptian international.
Turkish giants circle as Marmoush edges toward exit
According to reports, Fenerbahce have placed Marmoush at the top of their shortlist as they look to strengthen their attacking options this month. The Istanbul club are searching for a forward who can operate across the front line, and the Manchester City attacker fits that brief perfectly.
Fenerbahce are said to be readying an offer in the region of €30 million to secure his signature. At the same time, domestic rivals Galatasaray are also monitoring the situation closely. The reigning Turkish champions are in the market for a similarly versatile forward and view Marmoush as a serious candidate alongside other targets.
Guardiola’s decision to sanction the sale significantly improves the chances of both Turkish clubs, who now see a realistic opportunity to bring the Egyptian to the Süper Lig before the window closes.
A mixed spell at Manchester City
Marmoush’s time at the Etihad has been anything but straightforward. He arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025 for a reported €70 million fee, one of the headline signings of that winter window. At the time, he was coming off an impressive spell in the Bundesliga, where his dynamism, direct running and goal threat had made him one of the most talked‑about attacking talents in Europe.
In the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, Marmoush briefly justified the hype. In a City side that struggled for consistency at times, the Egyptian forward provided energy and unpredictability in the final third, becoming one of the few genuine positives in a challenging period for the club.
However, the current season has seen his role diminish dramatically. Marmoush has slipped down the pecking order, with Guardiola increasingly relying on other options in attack. So far this term, he has accumulated just 483 minutes across 17 appearances in all competitions, contributing two goals and one assist. While those numbers are not disastrous given the limited playing time, they are far from what was expected of a player signed for such a substantial fee.
Why Guardiola is prepared to let him go
City’s willingness to approve Marmoush’s exit appears to be rooted in both sporting and strategic reasons. Tactically, Guardiola demands extremely high levels of positional discipline and decision‑making in the final third. Marmoush’s game is built on instinct, speed and directness — qualities that can be devastating, but which sometimes clash with the tightly choreographed structure of City’s attacking patterns.
With competition for places fierce and younger or more tactically embedded players ahead of him, Marmoush has found himself limited to short cameos and rotational starts. At 26, he is entering what should be the peak of his career, and a peripheral role does not benefit either the player or the club.
Financially, City would also be rationalising a significant investment. Although a €30 million fee represents a clear loss compared to the €70 million outlay to Eintracht Frankfurt, offloading a player who is no longer central to Guardiola’s plans frees up wages and a squad spot, potentially allowing the club to reshape their attacking options in future windows.
Fenerbahce’s plan: replacing Youssef En‑Nesyri
Fenerbahce’s pursuit of Marmoush is closely tied to their own transfer domino. The club are preparing for the possible departure of Youssef En‑Nesyri, who has attracted concrete interest from Everton, Napoli and Juventus. Losing their main centre-forward would leave a sizeable gap in the squad, and the Istanbul side are keen to act proactively rather than react at the last moment.
Marmoush appeals to Fenerbahce partly because he is not a like‑for‑like target man, but an attacker capable of playing wide, through the middle, or in a support striker role. That flexibility would allow the coaching staff to reshape their attacking structure without being locked into a single system.
A €30 million proposal underlines how serious Fenerbahce are about this transfer. For a Süper Lig club, that level of investment is reserved for players expected to become immediate stars and difference-makers, not merely squad options.
Galatasaray’s counter‑interest and tactical thinking
Galatasaray are also assessing Marmoush as they look to upgrade their offensive line for the second half of the 2025/26 season. Head coach Okan Buruk has been clear about wanting more firepower and variety in the final third, especially as the team juggles domestic and European commitments.
The club have drawn up a shortlist of attacking targets, with names such as Crysencio Summerville under consideration. Marmoush’s profile stands out because he combines top‑level European experience with the ability to operate in several roles: as a wide forward, inside forward cutting in from the flanks, or as a central striker in a fluid front three.
For Galatasaray, signing Marmoush would not just be about goals. His pressing intensity, willingness to run in behind and capacity to stretch defences could open space for the team’s creative midfielders and playmakers to thrive.
What Marmoush would bring to the Süper Lig
Should the move to Turkey materialise, Marmoush would arrive as one of the most high‑profile attackers in the league. His strengths are well defined:
– Explosive acceleration and pace in transition
– Direct dribbling and ability to beat defenders one‑on‑one
– Intelligent movement off the ball, especially into half‑spaces
– Comfort operating across the front line
– Experience against top European defences in both the Bundesliga and Premier League
In the Süper Lig, where many teams defend deeper against the traditional big three, his ability to unsettle compact back lines with sharp movements and quick interchanges could prove decisive. Playing in a slightly less rigid tactical environment than under Guardiola might also allow him to express more of the instinctive, high‑risk side of his game.
Potential benefits for the Egyptian national team
From the perspective of the Egypt national team, a transfer that guarantees more regular club football could be hugely beneficial. Marmoush is an important figure for his country, and consistent minutes at club level are crucial for maintaining sharpness and confidence heading into major international fixtures.
A leading role at Fenerbahce or Galatasaray would likely see him shouldering more responsibility in crucial league and continental matches, experience that tends to translate positively to international performances.
A fresh start at a critical age
At 26, Marmoush stands at a crossroads. Staying at Manchester City might mean continued exposure to elite training standards but limited match involvement. Moving on in January, by contrast, offers the opportunity to become a central figure rather than a rotational piece.
For players in his age bracket, these decisions often define the next phase of their careers. A successful spell in Turkey could either establish him as a long‑term star in the Süper Lig or serve as a springboard back to one of Europe’s top five leagues in a different context more suited to his style.
How this move reflects City’s wider squad strategy
From City’s standpoint, allowing Marmoush to depart is consistent with a broader approach to squad management. Even big‑money signings are not guaranteed long stays if they fail to become indispensable. Guardiola and the club’s hierarchy have repeatedly shown a willingness to refresh the squad, moving on players whose roles have diminished rather than allowing situations to stagnate.
In practical terms, City’s depth in attacking positions, combined with the emergence or continued excellence of other forwards, has made Marmoush expendable. Approving his exit in January avoids a scenario in which an unhappy player spends another half-season on the fringes.
What happens next
The coming days are likely to be decisive. Fenerbahce are expected to formalise their €30 million bid, putting concrete pressure on Manchester City to close the deal. Galatasaray, meanwhile, must decide how aggressively they are prepared to compete, both in terms of transfer fee and personal terms for the player.
For Marmoush, the key factors will be guaranteed playing time, tactical fit, and the overall project each club presents. With Guardiola already having approved his departure, the path out of the Etihad is clear. What remains to be seen is which Istanbul giant wins the race for his signature — and whether a move to Turkey can unlock the version of Omar Marmoush that once made him one of the most exciting attacking prospects in Europe.