Eintracht Frankfurt manager Dino Toppmoller has raised doubt over Omar Marmoush’s £67million move to Manchester City.
The Premier League champions are expected to complete the signing of the Egyptian international who is second only to Harry Kane in the Bundesliga scoring charts, with 14 goals in 16 matches.
Marmoush has already agreed personal terms and City are in the throes of negotiating the structure of the fee before signing the prolific forward.
But reports coming out of Germany have raised some doubt over the move, first with the news from Sky Germany that the 25-year-old is expected to be in his side’s starting line-up for their clash against SC Freiburg on Tuesday.
This was followed by comments from the Frankfurt boss Toppmoller, who said: ‘It’s not out of the question that he stays here.’
City had originally hoped to land Marmoush for around £40m but Frankfurt have been insistent that they want a premium because it is the January window and they need to find a replacement.
Omar Marmoush has been in red-hot form for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga this term
Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmoller raised doubt over the £67million move to Manchester City
Pep Guardiola’ side are looking to bolster their attacking options and lighten the load on Erling Haaland
The club have been looking for a forward to alleviate the burden on Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola has admitted they made a mistake by not replacing Julian Alvarez who joined Atletico Madrid in the summer.
Liverpool and Arsenal had also been following Marmoush but have not followed up their interest upon discovering Frankfurt’s asking price.
City are bolstering their squad to give Guardiola fresh impetus for the second half of the season. Centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov is expected to arrive from Lens at the start of next week after City agreed to pay £33.5million for the Uzbekistan international.
The 20-year-old will sign a four and a half year contract with an option for a further year. City remain in negotiations for 18-year-old Brazilian centre-back Vitor Reis from Palmeiras also but the plan is for him to join them after the World Club Cup in July.
Palmeiras are pushing for a £37m deal which would represent a Brazilian record fee for a defender.
City have not finished there and remain alert to adding another midfielder this month.