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Aston Villa could sign the new Marcus Rashford
It’s all going on at Aston Villa. Donyell Malen has completed a transfer to AS Roma, initially on loan and with an option to buy, and talks are ongoing with Besiktas over a deal for Tammy Abraham.
Unai Emery had also driven a bid for Conor Gallagher, but the England midfielder’s move to Villa Park was hijacked by Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
With Boubacar Kamara now sidelined with a knee injury, it’s clear that third-place Villa will continue to search for more depth in the centre of the park, but with frustrations over missing out on Gallagher still fresh in the mind, the Midlands side might want to line up an alternative to complete Emery’s frontline.
How Ason Villa plan to strengthen their attack
The departure of Malen demands fresh quality to be added up top. Aston Villa are competing across multiple fronts, domestically and abroad, and they cannot afford to leave themselves short-changed.
Last term, Marcus Rashford was loaned from Manchester United on a short-term loan deal, and the England forward added pace and energy and sharpness in the final third.
Now, Ollie Watkins might have returned to form, but the interest in Abraham underscores Emery’s desire for improvements.
Earlier in January, Aston Villa registered their interest in Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush, as per Football Insider, and it’s possible that that interest remains, with the Egyptian’s playing time threatened by Pep Guardiola’s purchase of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.
The £295k-per week Marmoush, 26, has fallen down the pecking order this season, but at Villa Park, he could emulate Rashford in moving to the Midlands and rekindling his career.
Why Omar Marmoush would be the new Rashford
When Marmoush left Eintracht Frankfurt and signed for Man City in a £59m deal in January 2025, he was considered to be “one of the best strikers in the world” by content creator and German football expert Fiago.
And while City were in a rut last season, Marmoush’s form upon joining helped steer the reigning Premier League champions away from mid-table danger, scoring even goals from 14 starts in the Premier League. Against Bournemouth, his Howitzer secured the division’s Goal of the Season.
However, the Citizen’s current situation underlines the potential need for Marmoush to move on to pastures new. In this, he could replicate Rashford’s move last year, with the Barcelona loanee posting four goals and six assists across 17 matches in all competitions.
Even at a low ebb, Marmoush ranks among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals scored per 90, as per FBref, and given that he can do it across numerous attacking berths, you can see why Villa are keen.
|
Marmoush – Career Stats by Position |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Apps |
Goals + Assists |
|
Centre-forward |
161 |
59 + 25 |
|
Left winger |
34 |
11 + 6 |
|
Attacking midfield |
22 |
7 + 4 |
|
Right winger |
15 |
0 + 0 |
|
Data via Transfermarkt |
||
Abraham would provide a fresh goalscoring dimension at Aston Villa, but the 28-year-old has ebbed and flowed since leaving England, and his injury record leaves much to be desired.
Marmoush hasn’t really hit full stride in the Premier League, and at Villa, under Emery’s management, he would have everything he would need to become a talismanic force for one of the most exciting projects in Europe.
By emulating Rashford, Marmoush would be able to pick himself back up and raise Aston Villa’s level at the same time. Efforts might be focused on Abraham right now, but the Villans are riding the crest of a wave, and it’s understandable that Emery might be eyeing an even bigger fish.
Manchester City writer Radu Christian has called Marmoush a “superstar” of a forward, and that’s the kind of profile Villa need to be targeting.
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