It was a busy January transfer window for Manchester City, as Pep Guardiola’s side made four signings to strengthen their squad. Currently sitting fifth in the Premier League with 41 points, they also face a Champions League knockout clash against Real Madrid.
City made two defensive additions, signing centre-back duo Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens and Vitor Reis from Palmeiras. They also added midfielder Nico Gonzalez from FC Porto on deadline day, bolstering their options in midfield, especially with Rodri sidelined.
However, one of the most notable moves of the winter transfer window was the signing of Omar Marmoush.
Why City Signed Marmoush
There were few players in better form for a potential attacking reinforcement than Marmoush. Before his £59m move to Manchester City, the Egyptian forward was in sensational form for Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga.
In just 26 games across all competitions, Marmoush scored 20 goals and provided 14 assists. Despite leaving mid-January, he still ranks second in Bundesliga goal involvements, with only Harry Kane ahead of him, according to FBref.
The 26-year-old has made two Premier League appearances for City, facing Chelsea and Arsenal in his first outings. It’s been a tough introduction to the Premier League, but Marmoush has stepped up admirably. Football analyst and host of The Overlap: The Breakdown, was full of praise for his City debut, describing him as “class” with “ridiculous” runs behind the defense.
Could City Have Saved Money?
While Marmoush shows promise, City may have saved their money by keeping a former academy starlet in their squad.
The player in question is Brahim Diaz, a former City academy talent now at Real Madrid. Diaz, who had spent several years in the City youth ranks and made 15 appearances for the first team under Guardiola, left for Madrid in 2019 after signing a six-and-a-half-year deal.
Since joining Los Blancos, Diaz has struggled to find a consistent spot in the starting lineup. However, his recent form has been impressive. After a few years on loan at AC Milan, Diaz returned to Madrid and has played 73 games over the past two seasons, scoring 15 goals and providing 15 assists.
With Diaz’s recent success, especially in Milan, City might regret selling the versatile attacker, especially given the player’s potential to add depth to their squad.
