Nottingham Forest are in advanced talks to sign Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush and are confident of getting a deal done with the Egypt international keen on a switch to the Premier League outfit.
- Exclusive from Graeme Bailey
After failing to land many of their top attacking targets, Nottingham Forest have shifted their focus to another name on their transfer hitlist during the final few days of the summer window.
A proposed deal for Arsenal benchwarmer Eddie Nketiah failed to materialise. Forest agreed a £28 million fee – rising to £30 million – with Feyenoord for Santiago Gimenez but the Mexico marksman appeared to have reservations about the move.
HITC reported this week, meanwhile, that Nottingham Forest had submitted another big money offer worth £25 million, this time for Yoane Wissa.
But Brentford have made it clear that they have no interest in selling a man who reached double figures in the Premier League last term, particularly with Ivan Toney having agreed personal terms with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal.
So while Omar Marmoush might not have been Forest’s number one target to reinforce an occasionally profligate frontline, the two-time European champions are now pressing ahead with a deal for the Egypt attacker.
Nottingham Forest close in on Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush
Marmoush, a Cairo-born 25-year-old, has spent the last seven seasons in Germany.
He moved to Wolfsburg in 2017 and now finds himself at Frankfurt after loan spells with St Pauli and Stuttgart.
Die Adler boast a formidable record when it comes to helping promising strikers realise their potential and then selling them on for a sizeable profit.
Marmoush, scorer of 17 goals and provider of six assists last term, now appears likely to follow in the footsteps of Luka Jovic, Ante Rebic, Sebastien Haller and Paris Saint-Germain’s £68 million man Randal Kolo Muani.
HITC understands that Marmoush – who once discussed his Premier League ‘dream’ – is keen to make the move to the City Ground. Nottingham Forest are pushing ahead with the deal and, after entering advanced talks, are confident that a deal will be agreed with a man who has emerged as their primary target ahead of Friday’s 11pm deadline.
A skilful and mobile footballer with a penchant for dazzling solo runs, Marmoush is an attacker in the Wissa mould rather than a physical targetman like a Taiwo Awoniyi or a Chris Wood.
Forest could miss out on Yoane Wisssa and Santiago Gimenez
“He works extremely hard and is hard to defend against,” Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmoller said last year after Marmoush hit a brace in a 3-0 hammering of Union Berlin, per the Bundesliga website.
“His pace makes him an awkward opponent for defenders when he runs in behind them. I like that he is very diligent and always listens. His goals are a reward for his effort.
“Omar is a very good player who has now discovered scoring goals. We’re working with him there. I just like that he’s extremely hard-working, that he listens, is keen and gets involved.
“He now also has a feeling for getting into dangerous areas again and again, and helping us with his footballing technique.”
How much Nottingham Forest are prepared to pay remains to be seen.
According to German publication BILD, however, Frankfurt are looking for up to £33 million for a player who is developing into one of the more underrated forwards in Europe’s major leagues.
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