EXCLUSIVE: West Ham eye Eintracht Frankfurt star
West Ham United are eyeing a potential move for Egyptian international Omar Marmoush for next year, FootballTransfers has been told.
West Ham brought striker Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund during the summer window, marking the fifth summer signing brought in by the manager Julen Lopetegui. The East London club currently have three strikers in their squad, all older than 31 years old, and the futures of Danny Ings and Michail Antonio are uncertain.
Now we understand that West Ham are keen on the forward Eintracht Frankfurt forward. Marmoush was considered by Nottingham Forest in the summer, too, but the Midlands club had a €30 million offer turned down by Frankfurt. However, we are told the player remains open to a Premier League switch.
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He claimed he stayed with Frankfurt because of his relationship with Dino Toppmoller. “The feeling I have here, especially with the coach, is indescribable,” he told German outlet Bild. “That just inspired me to stay here and concentrate on the task.”
Marmoush, who joined the German side as a free agent after leaving Wolfsburg, is now under consideration.
Marmoush has opened the season with six goals in five matches, as well as one assist. He has forged a great partnership with former Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike, another player who West Ham have admired in the past.
How good is Marmoush?
Touted for big things since bursting onto the scene in his native Egypt, Marmoush – who was also eligible to represent Canada before becoming cap-tied – headed to Germany as a teenager, joining VfL Wolfsburg. However, he struggled to fully live up to his potential initially.
Loaned to St. Pauli and Stuttgart, Marmoush often showed signs of immense promise without ever being able to establish himself at his parent club. Some of it was likely due to his versatility.
An attacker who can feature on the flanks and centrally, Marmoush is a bit of both, half winger, half striker, and this meant that he was often plugged into wherever he was needed at any given time.
“Omar is a very good player,” said head coach Dino Toppmoller after a brace against Union Berlin last season. “[He] has now discovered his scoring form…the goals he is scoring right now are a reward for the hard work he is putting in. His pace consistently creates difficult moments for defenders. He now also has the instinct to get into dangerous areas and help us with his technical ability and also as a target player who can lay the ball off cleanly.”