Manchester City given encouragement in Marmoush chase and eye Khusanov

Manchester City are considering testing Eintracht Frankfurt’s resolve to keep their highly rated forward Omar Marmoush with a formal bid while also monitoring the Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov and preparing an offer of €40m (£33m) for Palmeiras’s teenage defender Vitor Reis.

While Frankfurt’s official stance is that Marmoush is not for sale, it is understood the club, currently third in the Bundesliga, may countenance a €60m-plus (£50m-plus) offer for the 25-year-old Egyptian, who has scored 18 goals and provided 12 assists in all competitions this season.

Marmoush is a No 9 who can also operate wide or as a No 10 and would ease the goalscoring burden on Erling Haaland. City sold Julián Alvarez to Atlético Madrid for a club record £82m in the summer but did not replace the forward.

Pep Guardiola is also an admirer of Khusanov, and while any potential deal is thought not to be too advanced, the 20-year-old missed training with Lens on Friday. Guardiola is seeking to strengthen his defensive options after injuries to John Stones, Rúben Dias and Nathan Aké during the current campaign.

In regards to Reis, City are in discussions with Palmeiras regarding a deal for a player who turns 19 on Sunday and are expected to firm up their interest. Unlike Khusanov, the Brazil Under-17s centre-back may be a signing for the future.

When asked on Friday about signings this month, Guardiola said: “Don’t ask me. I don’t like the transfer window much but with the situation this season with many many injuries we have to try to do it because that’s what the situation is.” Of Marmoush specifically, he said: “He’s a player from another club. I’m not going to answer. I was clear.”

Ederson is available for Saturday’s FA Cup third-round visit of Salford City, while Oscar Bobb has also returned to contention following the leg fracture injury he suffered in training before the start of the season.

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“Oscar is training already with the team – partial,” said Guardiola. “It’s not muscular, it was a bone and it’s already fixed. It’s good news that he’s back.”

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