Tottenham Hotspur Face Fresh Transfer Battle as Newcastle Eye Move for Man City Forward
Tottenham Hotspur could now be pipped to the signing of a 27-year-old Premier League star who Roberto De Zerbi admires.
The North London club have been active in the market this summer as they look to reshape their attacking options under the Italian head coach.
With the transfer window scheduled to slam shut on September 1, time is running out for Spurs to complete the reinforcements they so clearly need.
Spurs are working hard to get multiple attacking reinforcements through the door before the deadline.
De Zerbi has publicly stated that he expects the club to complete two or three more signings, and we are now at the stage of the window where deals start speeding up. The manager’s comments have put clear pressure on the recruitment team to deliver, especially in the final weeks when competition intensifies and asking prices tend to rise.
There is a big question mark over whether Tottenham will sign a striker this summer.
That uncertainty has grown after Spurs’ top target, Eli Junior Kroupi, picked up a serious injury that has ruled out any possibility of a summer move. The setback has forced the club to reassess its options in the forward areas and look at alternative profiles who can offer goals, movement and link-up play.
Newcastle Ready to Challenge Tottenham for Omar Marmoush
Roberto De Zerbi is thought to be a big fan of Omar Marmoush, and it has been reported by several outlets that Tottenham have explored a deal for the Manchester City forward this summer.
The Egyptian international has shown flashes of quality since joining City but has found regular minutes hard to come by in a star-studded squad. That situation has fuelled speculation that he could seek a move in search of more consistent game time.
A report in Caught Offside has now claimed that there is a ‘genuine chance’ of Marmoush leaving Manchester City over the next few weeks. The outlet suggests the 27-year-old continues to be in Spurs’ plans, with the North London club holding informal contacts with his camp. Those discussions have not yet developed into a formal offer, but they indicate that Tottenham remain interested in bringing the forward to the Premier League capital.
However, Tottenham now face competition from Newcastle United, who are ready to join the race for Marmoush as they look to bolster their own forward line. The Magpies have been linked with several attacking targets this window and see the City man as a player who could add quality and depth to their ranks. Newcastle’s interest has the potential to complicate Spurs’ plans significantly.
Barcelona are also continuing to explore a move for the 27-year-old as a potential alternative to Julian Alvarez. If the Catalan club are unable to tie up a deal for the Argentine, Marmoush could become a more realistic option for them. The involvement of a club of Barcelona’s stature only adds further intrigue to the situation and raises the possibility of a multi-club bidding contest.
Newcastle Better Placed Than Spurs to Afford Marmoush
Caught Offside report that the Magpies may be the ones to watch in the race for the Manchester City forward. Newcastle now have significant money to spend in the final few weeks of the transfer window after a series of high-profile departures. Having sold Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes for big money this summer, the club find themselves in a strong financial position.
Those sales have left Newcastle ‘best placed’ to afford Manchester City’s asking price, which is believed to sit in the region of €60 million to €65 million (approximately £51.4 million to £55.7 million). That valuation reflects both Marmoush’s age and the potential he still possesses, as well as City’s desire to recoup a substantial fee for a player who has not been a regular starter.
One respected figure in the industry told the website about Marmoush: “He won’t come cheap, but Newcastle are under pressure to make a splash like that now, after recouping so much from player sales. There hasn’t been an approach yet, but it’s one to keep an eye on, for sure.” The comment underlines the sense that Newcastle feel an obligation to reinvest some of the funds raised from outgoing transfers into the first-team squad.
For Tottenham, the financial picture is different. While the club has shown willingness to spend under the current ownership, competing with Newcastle’s newly available resources could prove difficult if the Magpies decide to move decisively. Spurs would also need to structure any deal carefully to remain within their own budgetary framework and squad-planning requirements.
What This Means for Tottenham’s Window
The emergence of Newcastle as serious contenders for Marmoush comes at a delicate moment for Tottenham. De Zerbi has made it clear that he wants further attacking additions before the window closes, and the loss of Kroupi as a viable option has narrowed the list of available strikers. Marmoush represents a player who fits the profile of someone the head coach admires — technically sharp, versatile and capable of operating across the forward line.
Whether Spurs can still land their man will depend on several factors. They must decide how high they are prepared to go in negotiations with Manchester City, how quickly they can progress talks with the player’s representatives, and whether they are willing to enter a direct bidding contest with Newcastle. At the same time, they continue to explore other attacking targets so that they are not left short if this particular deal collapses.
Newcastle, for their part, appear well positioned. The funds generated from the sales of Gordon, Tonali and Guimaraes have given them flexibility that few other Premier League clubs currently enjoy. If the Magpies choose to prioritise Marmoush, they have the financial muscle to table a competitive offer and potentially move faster than Tottenham. That reality will not be lost on those at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Barcelona’s lingering interest adds another layer of complexity. While a move to Spain may appeal to the player for sporting and lifestyle reasons, the Premier League remains an attractive destination, particularly for a forward seeking regular minutes. Both Tottenham and Newcastle can offer the prospect of consistent game time in a competitive environment, something that has been harder to secure at the Etihad Stadium.
As the days tick down towards the September 1 deadline, the race for Omar Marmoush is likely to intensify. Tottenham remain interested and have already made informal contact. Newcastle are ready to step in with serious financial backing. Barcelona continue to monitor the situation. For now, the advantage appears to lie with the club best able to meet Manchester City’s valuation and convince the player that their project offers the platform he is looking for.
Roberto De Zerbi will be watching developments closely. The Italian has spoken openly about the need for further reinforcements, and a player of Marmoush’s quality would represent a significant addition to his attacking options. Whether that addition ultimately arrives in North London or on Tyneside remains one of the more intriguing subplots of the closing stages of the transfer window.
Supporters of both Tottenham and Newcastle will be hoping their club can secure the deal. For Spurs, it would help address the uncertainty surrounding the striker position and give De Zerbi another creative outlet. For Newcastle, it would demonstrate that the club is prepared to reinvest the proceeds of major sales into the squad and continue competing at the highest level. Either way, the coming weeks promise further twists in a transfer story that is only just beginning to unfold.