BARCA TARGET MARMOUSH: MANCHESTER CITY STAR EMERGES AS TOP ALTERNATIVE FOR CATALAN GIANTS
Striker hunt: Discover why Barcelona are eyeing Omar Marmoush as a cut-price alternative to Atletico's €200m Julián Alvarez.
Barcelona are eyeing Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush as they look to bring in a new striker this summer.
Sport says Barcelona have already nailed down their main targets for next season, and a new No. 9 tops the list. The problem? The market’s thin, prices are crazy, and the big names cost a fortune.
Julián Alvarez is the dream signing, but Atlético Madrid wants about €150m (£130m). That’s way out of reach. So, Barca are already weighing other options, and Marmoush is high on their list of names they like.
Here’s why Marmoush’s situation at City makes things interesting. City bought him from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025 for €75m (£65m). Pep Guardiola had tracked him for a while; Marmoush was tearing it up in the Bundesliga, and even then, Barcelona’s scouts were watching him too. They think he’d fit right into Hansi Flick’s style, with his speed and link-up play.
But things haven’t clicked for him at City. Erling Haaland is locked in as the main striker, so Marmoush has mostly been on the bench or pushed out wide. He’s shown flashes when he’s come on, but the minutes just haven’t been there. Missing a month for the Africa Cup of Nations didn’t help either, so his stats look pretty average.
Rumours about a possible exit started back in January. Marmoush wants more game time and a bigger role, something Barcelona can offer. Still, they’re not the only ones watching. Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Galatasaray are all interested, which makes his future even more up in the air.
So, is Marmoush’s time at City almost up? Barcelona are in a good spot if Marmoush decides to leave this summer. He’s not their top choice, but if the Alvarez deal falls apart, they could pivot fast.
For City, it all comes down to price. Marmoush cost them €75m (£65m) not long ago, but reports say he could go for less if Guardiola gives the green light. Selling him at a discount would be a big statement; it would basically say he’s not in their plans behind Haaland.
Right now, there’s no official offer. Barcelona are keeping a close eye on things, and a lot depends on whether Marmoush asks for a move after the season wraps up. If he does, City will have to fend off competition from England and Turkey to get the deal done.
HOW RODRI’S GROIN INJURY IS IMPACTING MANCHESTER CITY’S HIGH-STAKES PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE CHASE.
Manchester City’s Rodri and Ruben Dias miss the trip to Burnley. Discover Pep Guardiola’s injury update and the Premier League title race.
Pep Guardiola has indicated that Rodri is unlikely to be available for Manchester City's upcoming trip to Burnley, but he tried to ease concerns that the midfielder’s groin injury might sideline him for a prolonged period during the crucial stage of the title race.
City faces a tough test on Wednesday in the Premier League when they visit Burnley, with Rodri expected to be absent and centre-back Ruben Dias still out of action.
Guardiola confirmed these setbacks as his team attempts to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal.
Rodri picked up the injury late in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. The manager pointed out that it seems to be related to the groin.
Meanwhile, Dias hasn’t played since City’s Champions League round of 16 second leg defeat at home to Real Madrid last month.
Talking to the media on Tuesday, Guardiola gave an update: “I don’t think Rodri will be ready for tomorrow. We’ll see for the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton this weekend,” he said, adding, “Dias isn’t ready yet.”
These absences come at a pivotal moment in the Premier League title fight. Arsenal are leading with 70 points from 33 games, aiming for their first league crown since 2004. City trails by three points at 67 but has a crucial game in hand.
Although Arsenal have stumbled recently with four consecutive domestic losses across all competitions, City have regained some momentum since beating them in the Carabao Cup final last month.
Guardiola acknowledged how demanding their recent fixture schedule has been.
“It was a tough game on Sunday, both physically and emotionally. At the same time, we still have six games left. We understand exactly what’s at stake, whether we get the result or not,” he explained.
He also highlighted how challenging it is for both sides as the season reaches its climax.
“Neither team can afford to lose or drop points. It’s hard to bounce back, and our schedule is very demanding.”
Reflecting on the pursuit, Guardiola added, “For the team chasing, it’s more difficult both mentally and physically. After what happened against Arsenal, we have to go to Burnley and perform at the level required.”
MANCHESTER CITY REACH FINAL STAGES FOR TROYES SENSATION MATHYS DETOURBET THIS SUMMER
Mathys Detourbet to join Man City! See how the club beat PSG to sign the Troyes winger while eyeing a Newcastle target.
Manchester City are closing in on a deal for Mathys Tel, Troyes’ highly rated young winger. Sources tell StadiumNest that talks are heading toward the finish line, and both clubs stand to benefit, especially Troyes, who want to secure promotion this season.
Back in January, we reported that City had been looking at rising talent in their network of sister clubs. Detourbet and his teammate Christ Batola, both at Troyes, caught their eye right away.
Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest in the pair too, but City Football Group are determined to keep both players within their system.
As things stand, Detourbet is set to sign for Manchester City this summer. The plan is for him to return to Troyes on loan for next season, giving him more time to play and develop.
Troyes, sitting at the top of the Ligue 2 table and aiming to get back to Ligue 1 for the first time since 2022/23, sees this arrangement as a win. Keeping Detourbet, who has four goals and seven assists from 35 matches, gives them a better shot at promotion, even as they sell him to City.
As for the second star, 16-year-old striker Batola, he’s expected to sign a new long-term deal with Troyes, which keeps him within the City Group setup for now. The city sees him as a future option; Batola has scored nine and assisted twice in just 21 appearances this season. Locking him down keeps his talent in their circle and gives them flexibility down the road.
City is moving quickly, especially with PSG sniffing around. They look set to land Detourbet and keep Batola as a prospect, showing off the strength of their global multi-club model.
Meanwhile, in terms of immediate signings, City remain focused on landing a Newcastle United player labelled as a “dream target", though they’re also exploring other options heading into the summer transfer window.
