Honestly, I’m not a scout or a pundit, just a regular supporter who watches Manchester City every week. When the club paid around £59 million to bring Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt in the previous January window, I thought the Egyptian international could be a serious addition. He had that 'dangerous' quality around the box, and his early Premier League numbers backed it up with seven goals in his first 14 starts last season. Fast forward to now, though, and the latest Antoine Semenyo update makes the Marmoush deal look like an expensive misstep.

I get that attacking depth is important, especially at a club competing on multiple fronts. But when you spend that kind of money on a forward, you expect him to be more than just another body in the squad. This season, Marmoush has played only 211 minutes in the Premier League. He has made 10 appearances in total, and eight of those have come from the bench. That is not the profile of a player who was supposed to add a new dimension to Pep Guardiola’s attack. It is the profile of a fringe option, and with Manchester City’s transfer activity, it is hard to see how that changes in his favour.

Rayan Cherki was brought in during the summer transfer window, and he has already made a significant impact. Watching Cherki settle quickly and contribute in advanced areas makes Marmoush’s limited involvement even more noticeable. Then there is the Semenyo situation. Reports from Ben Jacobs earlier this week suggested that Bournemouth are expecting Semenyo’s move to Manchester City to be formalised within the next few days. The structure of his £65 million release clause was discussed on Monday, and personal terms have already been agreed.

If Semenyo arrives, Marmoush drops even further down the pecking order. Right now, based on minutes played this season, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Jeremy Doku, Cherki, Oscar Bobb, and Savinho all appear to be ahead of him. Semenyo would almost certainly jump straight into that group as well. That is a brutal reality for a player who cost a significant fee and arrived with genuine expectations.

I have watched City enough to know Guardiola does not hand out minutes based on price tags. If a player does not fit the tactical plan or is not performing in training, they will sit. But at the same time, Marmoush’s situation feels different from a normal adaptation period. He is 26, not a teenager finding his way. He had already proven himself in the Bundesliga and in European competition. You would expect him to push for a starting role, not struggle to make the matchday squad.

The attacking depth chart is becoming crowded in a way that makes Marmoush’s future very uncertain. This is roughly how I see the forward options stacking up once Semenyo is confirmed:

Player	Attacking Role	2026 Outlook
Erling Haaland	Central striker	Undisputed starter
Phil Foden	Creative forward	Back in form and trusted
Rayan Cherki	Attacking midfielder/winger	Immediate impact
Jeremy Doku	Wide forward	Finding his feet again
Savinho	Winger	Regular rotation option
Oscar Bobb	Young winger	Ahead of Marmoush
Bernardo Silva	Versatile attacker	Trusted in big games
Antoine Semenyo	Incoming forward	Expected to leapfrog Marmoush
Omar Marmoush	Forward	Fringe/bench option

That table is not a good sign for the Egyptian. When he returns from the African Cup of Nations, Semenyo could already be settling in and making an impact. At that point, Marmoush might be fighting just to make the squad, let alone the starting XI.

I still think Marmoush has talent. You do not score the goals he scored in Germany by accident. But football is also about timing, fit, and opportunity. Right now, the opportunity at Manchester City is disappearing quickly. A departure might be the best thing for all parties, but that is easier said than done. After an underwhelming season, selling him for a profit would be difficult. Clubs know City need to trim the attacking group, and they will not offer £59 million for a player who is barely featuring.

From a fan’s perspective, it is frustrating. Every club makes signings that do not work out, but this one looked so promising at the start. Marmoush seemed like a smart addition, a versatile forward who could play across the line and score important goals. Instead, he has become a costly reminder that even well-run clubs can get it wrong. The Semenyo deal only underlines that point. City are effectively spending more money to solve a problem they thought they had already solved with Marmoush. That is why, for me, the Marmoush gamble has not paid off at all.