Transfer chatter is always at its liveliest when international tournaments are underway, and this January was no different.
While the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 was taking centre stage, club executives were quietly meeting and taking notes behind closed doors.
Deals may not be official, but the groundwork is being laid for potential moves later in the summer.
One player who has caught attention is a technically gifted forward, Omar Marmoush, at Manchester City.
His performances have impressed observers, yet he is also searching for more consistent game time, a factor that is increasingly shaping discussions around his future.
According to Middle East outlet winwin, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have both been linked to the 27-year-old Egyptian forward.
The report claims that Barcelona’s sporting department met with the player’s representatives in January while he was away at AFCON, discussing the possibility of a move.
Crucially, winwin emphasises that this comes from their own sources, rather than speculation from Spanish media.
The forward is said to be highly rated by Barcelona officials for both his technical skills and commercial appeal, with the club believing he would be open to joining if formal talks progressed.
At the same time, Atletico Madrid are monitoring the situation closely.
Diego Simeone’s side reportedly see the forward as a potential replacement if Julian Alvarez were to leave, which could trigger a domino effect linking multiple transfers across Europe.
Omar Marmoush has also been linked recently with Tottenham, Aston Villa and Galatasaray, showing that interest in him is widespread.
But from Manchester City’s perspective, the forward remains settled at the Etihad and enjoys working under Pep Guardiola.
The player’s main motivation is more minutes on the pitch, as he has started the season largely outside the preferred XI and missed around a month through injury.
Even so, Marmoush has contributed 12 goals and five assists in 49 appearances since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025.
There are no formal bids yet, with discussions described as positioning and preliminary talks rather than concrete offers.
For Barcelona, the story is one of early interest and careful monitoring, keeping an eye on a player who could strengthen their attacking options while also fitting the club’s commercial strategy.
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