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MANCHESTER CITY ARE INTENT ON TAKING EINTRACHT FRANKFURT STRIKER OMAR MARMOUSH ON A PERMANENT TRANSFER IN JANUARY - BUT HE IS STILL SCORING IN GERMANY FOR THE TIME BEING. 18:24, 11 Jan 2025

Omar Marmoush scored his 19th goal of a season that continues to go from strength to strength amid growing transfer interest from Manchester City. The Blues have identified Marmoush as their

top target on the back of his impressive goals return as well as 12 assists for a flying Frankfurt side. The Egyptian striker's latest goal came against his former loan club St Pauli -

the club where he scored seven times in 21 appearances on loan from Wolfsburg, before joining Frankfurt in 2023 on a free transfer. Marmoush reacted quickest to a loose ball on Saturday to

turn and smash into the top corner from around eight yards, showing City what they could expect if he joined them this month. Eintracht are keen to hold out for €80m (£67m) for Marmoush,

whereas City are hopeful of a transfer fee closer to £50m. Another goal to keep Eintracht in the hunt for a Champions League spot will only strengthen his current club's hand in

negotiations - which reportedly began on Friday. Marmoush opted not to celebrate against his old club on Saturday, holding both hands up as he ran towards his teammates in a classy gesture

towards a club who put him on the verge of a huge transfer to the Premier League. Article continues below In a leading article on Bild, one of Germany's major sports papers, the

headline read: "Was that Marmoush's last goal for Frankfurt?" and asked whether the celebration was a sign of Marmoush saying farewell to Eintracht - although it appeared to

be in relation to his previous spell at St Pauli. Reports in Germany and in the UK suggest talks could be moving towards a positive conclusion for Marmoush to join City, with the transfer

fee the only sticking point. On Friday, Eintracht boss Dino Toppmöller had said his side had received no bid, but said before the game: "He has to give the answer on the pitch. He has

had a good week of training, just like everyone else. The fact that he is in the starting eleven is answer enough." Article continues below Sporting director Markus Krosche had said

earlier this week: "Our basic intention is to keep the squad together. Something extraordinary would have to happen for us to move away from this position."