Exclusive: Newcastle and Arsenal recently scouted £50m forward as director says no Arne Slot talks
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Premier League quartet Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle United have all sent scouts to watch Eintracht Frankfurt’s Bundesliga sensation Omar Marmoush in recent weeks.
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The message coming out of the Commerzbank Arena this week, via Frankfurt’s sporting director Timmo Hardung, is that any club weighing up a potential January bid for the free-scoring Egypt international would likely be wasting their time.
Omar Marmoush turned down Nottingham Forest in the dying embers of the summer window. And, according to Hardung, a forward with 14 goals and 10 assists to his name this season has shown little interest in reneging on his commitment to the Frankfurt cause despite rising interest from the Premier League and beyond.
TBR understands that scouts are still flocking to Frankfurt in their droves, however. More than half of the Premier League have watched Omar Marmoush in the flesh during the last few weeks. Among them are Chelsea, Newcastle, Pep Guardiola’s crisis-hit Man City, and Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.
Arsenal arguably remain an elite centre-forward short. TBR understands Arsenal are monitoring Paris Saint-Germain frontman Randal Kolo Muani, Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres.
Marmoush can be added to that list, too.
Newcastle United and Arsenal scout Frankfurt star Omar Marmoush
With 17 goals and six assists across 2023/24, Marmoush quietly blossomed into one of the Bundesliga’s stand-out talents last term. The former Stuttgart and Wolfsburg forward, now reportedly valued at £50 million, has taken his game to an all-new level in recent months, however.
Frankfurt have a remarkable track record when it comes to selling their star attackers for massive fees. But, after Andre Silva, Sebastian Haller, Luka Jovic and the aforementioned Kolo Muani struggled to replicate their Frankfurt form away from The Eagles, it remains to be seen if Marmoush’s stunning form is a little more sustainable.
One reporter, though, feels that Marmoush can become ‘better’ than Liverpool’s Mo Salah if he keeps up his current trajectory. At the age of 25, he is arguably further ahead in his development than the late-blooming Salah was at the same age.
Frankfurt’s Head of sports Markus Krosche could not rule out selling Marmoush or any of Frankfurt’s other in-form stars recently. Hardung, meanwhile, insists that a team sitting second in the Bundesliga table are certainly not looking to encourage offers.
"It is clear that players like Omar have their own market value in the transfer market,” Hardung tells Win Win. “At the moment, we are not looking to sell him. We are very happy with him at our club.
“We will see what happens in the summer. Who knows? He might stay. There is definitely a possibility that he will stay next summer, [that] we will not let him go.
“He has a great personality, he is an excellent footballer. There is no reason to let go of a player like him. It is better for us to have him here with us and strive to achieve something big.”
Eintracht Frankfurt say no Liverpool talks with Bundesliga star
TBR understands that Liverpool could ensure Marmoush follows in Salah’s footsteps at Anfield. The Egpytian King handing over his crown to a young pretender.
Hardung insists that there has not been any discussions from Liverpool or any other suitor at this stage, howver.
"We have not had any contact with Liverpool regarding Marmoush. No negotiations or contacts,” the director explains. “There are no contacts with any club regarding the player.
"We do not want to dispense with him. We do not want to sell him, certainly [not] in January. There is no reason to sell him in the winter.
“If Omar wants to leave the club, which does not seem likely at the moment, he is very happy here.”
TBR understands that Newcastle are looking at Brazilian duo Yuri Alberto and Igor Jesus, alongside Marmoush, in pursuit of a centre-forward of their own. Contract talks have stalled between Newcastle and Isak, while Callum Wilson’s injury issues have returned with a vengeance of late.
There is also interest in Marmoush’s Frankfurt sparring partner Hugo Ekitike and their impressive head coach Dino Toppmoller. Midfielder Hugo Larsson is linked with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, but remains keen to stay put.
