With half a season to go, in-form striker Omar Marmoush has Eintracht Frankfurt on track to finish in the top four for the first time in more than 30 years and has put Europe’s elite clubs on high alert during the January transfer window.

Third-placed Frankfurt, who last finished in the top four in the Bundesliga in 1992-93, are eight points ahead of Borussia Dortmund, but risk falling victim to Marmoush’s dazzling success as the 25-year-old attracts potential suitors from several European figures. prominent. Football clubs.

Here’s what you need to know about the promising striker who is on the verge of stardom in the world of football:

Who is Omar Marmoush?

Marmoush was born in Cairo in 1999, and rose to prominence early in the academy of Wadi Degla Club in the Egyptian Premier League. When he was just 17 years old, he was promoted to the first team and joined Wolfsburg’s reserve team a year later.

At Wolfsburg, Marmoush initially struggled to find consistency and playing time, which led to loans to St. Pauli and Stuttgart.

The striker moved to Frankfurt on a free transfer before the 2023-2024 season and scored 12 goals in 29 league matches.

He also struggled to adapt to life in Germany.

According to Marmoush’s agent, the 1.83 m (6 ft) tall striker’s initial struggles with language and life in Germany laid the foundation for his achievements.

“Marmoush’s mastery of German, French and English has contributed greatly to his success. He is thriving at Eintracht Frankfurt,” said Ahmed Abdoun.

In 2021, the same year he made his debut for Wolfsburg’s senior team, Marmoush – who was also eligible to play for Canada through his father – received his first call-up to the Egypt national team.

In his first international match alongside Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, Marmoush scored the winning goal against Libya in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

How many goals did Omar Marmoush score?

Al-Masry has enjoyed an amazing season in the 2024-2025 Bundesliga so far.

Marmoush scored 15 goals, good enough for second place in the league behind Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane. He leads the German top flight with 10 assists in 17 Bundesliga matches.

He has also scored four goals in the Europa League and one in Germany’s domestic cup competition, the DFB-Pokal.

In Europe’s top five leagues, his 25 goal contributions are second only to fellow Egyptian Salah, who has scored 31 goals, having played three more matches.

In international football, Marmoush scored six goals in 35 matches with the Pharaohs.

“Omar always wants to win, regardless of whether it is a Bundesliga match or a training match,” says Eintracht Frankfurt coach Dino Topmüller.

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany praised Marmoush after he scored the equalizing goal in a 3-3 home draw with the German giants last October.

“Marmoush is a player who will improve over time,” Kompany said, praising the striker’s exceptional skills and describing them as “extraordinary.”

What does Salah think of Marmoush?

Marmoush’s development led to inevitable comparisons with Salah, but the Liverpool star warned against such associations.

Salah said last November: “Omar has great potential and is an important player for his team and the national team currently, but I hope we stay away from the idea of ​​comparisons because it will put him under pressure.”

“Don’t compare him to me. Don’t say ‘the new Mohamed Salah’. Let him live his career. Comparing a player at the beginning of his career to another who has achieved a lot over many years does not help him.”

What clubs are interested in buying Marmoush?

The Frankfurt striker has a contract with the German club until the summer of 2027.

While Marmoush has played in Germany since 2017, there was always the possibility that he could be snapped up by one of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Multiple media reports have indicated that Manchester City are very interested in buying the striker, which would put Marmoush as the biggest competitor for the English Premier League title to his compatriot Salah, who is Egypt’s most famous sporting export.

It has been widely reported that City are soon preparing to make a move for Marmoush before the transfer window closes on February 3.

Markus Crocci, Frankfurt’s sporting director, admitted that one club had “expressed interest” in the player, although he did not confirm that it was Manchester City. The English Premier League champion has been suffering recently under the leadership of coach Pep Guardiola.

It is believed that Arsenal, and even Liverpool, may also have an interest in buying Marmoush.

What is the price set by Frankfurt to buy Marmoush?

Sky Sports reported that Frankfurt was demanding a fee of 80 million euros ($82 million) for Marmoush, but Kroche also refused to confirm this.

“It makes no sense to talk about prices,” Crocci said. “Basically, we said our goal is to keep this team together. Of course, we also said that if there are exceptional circumstances, we should consider letting go of top performers. We’re not there yet.”

This would be Frankfurt’s second major coup in a season and a half following the sale of Randall Kolo Mwani in 2023 to Paris Saint-Germain for €95 million ($103 million then).

Which club will Marmoush join?

Abdoun, Al-Masry’s agent, said that the decision will be made based on the final offers submitted by all potential clubs.

“The Bundesliga has always been a stepping stone to major leagues like the English Premier League or La Liga. If there are any offers, we will discuss them with the club and make the best decision.”

He just keeps scoring. 😉 pic.twitter.com/blNgBhB9FB

– Eintracht Frankfurt (@eintracht_us) January 14, 2025