Pep Guardiola approval awaited as Barcelona circle for Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush

Manchester City’s resurgent forward Omar Marmoush has emerged as a summer transfer target for Barcelona, but any deal hinges on manager Pep Guardiola sanctioning the departure of the 27-year-old Egypt international.

Marmoush underlined his value to the Premier League champions with a match-winning brace in Sunday’s 3-1 FA Cup quarter-final triumph over Newcastle United, a performance that intensified interest from the Spotify Camp Nou. The former Eintracht Frankfurt attacker, signed for £59 million only four months ago, has rediscovered his scoring touch since returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty and has offered City a reliable secondary source of goals behind Erling Haaland.

Yet the striker’s early months in Manchester were spent largely on the periphery. Guardiola preferred combinations involving Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Phil Foden in support of Haaland, leaving Marmoush frustrated by a lack of starts. With Antoine Semenyo arriving from Bournemouth in January and immediately establishing himself as a first-choice option alongside Haaland and Marc Guehi, Marmoush now faces competition from Foden, Savinho, Reijnders, Cherki and Jeremy Doku for the final attacking berth.

Barcelona, preparing for life after Robert Lewandowski, have placed Marmoush on a shortlist of potential replacements, according to The Athletic’s Pol Ballus. Financial constraints mean a move for primary target Julián Álvarez is unlikely, increasing the appeal of a more cost-effective deal for Marmoush. No formal discussions have taken place, and City’s hierarchy will not consider offers until Guardiola, whose own future has been the subject of speculation, gives his explicit consent.

Marmoush, contracted until 2029, is open to a new challenge if it brings the guarantee of regular football. Several European clubs are monitoring his situation, but Barcelona’s interest is the most advanced. City will demand full market value for a player whose goals could yet prove pivotal in their pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple, having already reduced Arsenal’s Premier League lead to seven points.

For now, Guardiola’s approval remains the decisive obstacle between Marmoush and a surprise Camp Nou switch.