Man City pull plug on big-name sale after Jeremy Doku news
Pep Guardiola has decided not to let Omar Marmoush leave Man City this month partly due to Jeremy Doku’s latest injury woes.
Marmoush has failed to build on his impressive first half-season at Man City with just two goals in 21 appearances so far this term.
He suffered a big injury in September and has only recently returned to form following the Africa Cup of Nations, with his second goal of the campaign coming against Wolves last weekend.
Sources told Football Insider last month that Tottenham had set their sights on Marmoush ahead of January, but he has not been keen on the move to North London.
City have no plans to let Marmoush depart before next Monday’s transfer deadline, and as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, Doku’s recent injury has played a part in their decision to keep the Egypt forward.
Doku’s injury has pushed City to keep Marmoush
Doku suffered a calf injury against Galatasaray in City’s midweek Champions League win, and is now set to be sidelined for the next few weeks.
Aston Villa recently emerged as the favourites to sign Marmoush, but neither they nor Spurs will be signing him this month as he remains at the Etihad Stadium.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “(Marmoush will) be hoping now that he can get a regular run in Guardiola’s side, and also I think that injury to Jeremy Doku, who could be out for a few weeks, will probably mean that Guardiola won’t want to weaken his squad by letting anybody leave.
“City are challenging on all fronts right now, so Guardiola won’t be looking to entertain losing anybody in his squad he’ll be looking to keep hold of everybody.
“There will be rotation, and there’ll be plenty of minutes for all those attacking players in the City squad, so yeah, I don’t see City opening the door for a possible move from Marmoush this month.
Kalvin Phillips could leave Man City amid Burnley and Wolves interest
Phillips has failed to make an impact at Man City since he joined them from his boyhood club Leeds for an initial £42million back in 2022.
The defensive midfielder has made just 31 appearances under Pep Guardiola in the three years since his move, and he spent time out on loan at West Ham in 2023-24 before moving to newly-promoted Ipswich Town for the 2024-25 campaign.
He has played just once so far in 2025-26, and Football Insider revealed prior to January that Wolves were interested in a deal Phillips this month, alongside Everton.
Sources have now told Football Insider that Phillips is now a target for Burnley and Wolves, and he could well complete an official exit from the Etihad before next Monday’s transfer deadline.