Latest news with #Marmoush
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Liverpool agree to sign Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike: reports
Find out what's new on ST website and app. LONDON – Liverpool have agreed to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike in a deal worth an initial £69 million (S$119 million), according to reports on July 21. The English Premier League champions switched their focus to Ekitike following Newcastle United's refusal to sell Sweden striker Alexander Isak, who is valued at around £150 million by the Magpies. Newcastle and Manchester United were also interested in Ekitike, but Liverpool look set to win the race for one of Europe's hottest young stars. It is believed that the Reds have agreed to pay a potential further £10 million in add-ons to sign the 23-year-old Frenchman, whose overall price tag could reach £79 million. Once the transfer is completed, Ekitike will link up with Arne Slot's side on their pre-season tour of Asia. The Guardian reported that the deal is a six-year contract. It was reported by the newspaper that he is scheduled for his medical examination in the UK on July 22 before officially putting pen to paper. Thereafter, he will fly to Hong Kong. Liverpool's sporting director, Richard Hughes, and members of their medical staff remained in the UK to complete the transfer. According to Bundesliga expert Constantin Eckner who spoke on the BBC, Ekitike is 'the latest success story of Frankfurt's recruitment'. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia At least 19 killed as Bangladesh air force plane crashes into college campus Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH Singapore 2 workers stranded on gondola dangling outside Raffles City Tower rescued by SCDF Business Why Singapore and its businesses stand to lose with US tariffs on the region Singapore NTU introduces compulsory cadaver dissection classes for medical students from 2026 Singapore Fine, driving ban for bus driver who hit lorry in BKE crash, causing fractures to passenger Singapore Jail for man who conspired with another to bribe MOH agency employee with $18k Paris trip Singapore New research institute will grow S'pore's talent in nuclear energy, safety 'During the first half of last season Ekitike and Omar Marmoush formed a fearsome pairing, but this was broken up when Manchester City signed Marmoush for £63 million in January,' he said. 'Ekitike is versatile and not a striker who only feels at home inside the box. When he played alongside Marmoush both swapped positions constantly. 'Ekitike might not be the most dynamic player, but he can get by defenders with smart moves. His tactical understanding is one of his great strengths, not just in possession but also when applying a high or midfield press.' The numbers do not lie. Ekitike scored 22 goals in 48 games in all competitions for Frankfurt last season after joining the Bundesliga club from Paris Saint-Germain. He was an unused substitute during his side's pre-season friendly against FSV Frankfurt on Saturday, with Eintracht boss Dino Toppmoller admitting Ekitike's impending departure was 'a bitter loss'. Liverpool have an opening in their forward line after Diogo Jota's recent death in a car crash in Spain. The Reds are also believed to be willing to sell Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, while Colombia forward Luis Diaz has been the target of a rejected bid from Bayern Munich. The English champions have already splashed out £116 million on Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz, as well as signing defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez from Bayer Leverkusen and Bournemouth respectively. Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has also linked up with Slot's side since the end of last season after agreeing his move from Valencia in 2024. AFP
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Ekitike is versatile and smart'
Newcastle's interest in Hugo Ekitike goes back to January 2022, the first transfer window with their Saudi Arabian owners. Back then they were unable to make a deal work and in the summer they ultimately chose Alexander Isak instead. Advertisement But the admiration has remained for a player who started at Reims and left for Paris St-Germain in 2023 but failed to make an impact and had a spell on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt before joining the Bundesliga club permanently last summer. "His tactical understanding is one of his great strengths," German football writer Constantin Eckner told BBC Sport. "He served as a lone striker as well as part of a two-striker set-up under Frankfurt manager Dino Toppmoller. "During the first half of last season, Ekitike and Omar Marmoush formed a fearsome strike pairing which was torn apart when Manchester City signed Marmoush for £63m in January. Advertisement "Subsequently, Frankfurt did not acquire a replacement for Marmoush and instead changed the tactical set-up, with Ekitike the lone striker. "He is versatile and not just a striker who feels at home inside the box. Ekitike might not be the most dynamic player, but he can get past defenders with smart moves." Eckner also said Frankfurt's sporting director Markus Krosche has stated the club will not let Ekitike go for less than £86m. He added: "It seems as if the Bundesliga side are fine with selling yet another top player to a Premier League club. "Their current model is that they find these gems, try to develop them and then fund their next signings through the money they generate." Read more on Ekitike here
Al-Ahram Weekly
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
'World Cup helped increase harmony inside team': Manchester City winger Marmoush
After almost two weeks in the prestigious tournament in the USA, the Citiczines are preparing for Tuesday's anticipated game against Saudi side Al-Hilal in the round of 16. As the team includes several new faces among the playing and coaching staff, 26-year-old Marmoush said spending this time together is having a positive effect. 'We've spent so much time together, sitting together at breakfast, lunch and dinner,' the Egyptian international was quoted as saying by the club's official website. 'Also, between and after sessions, we have free time that we spend together. This brings the chemistry up and makes us feel like a big family," he expressed. 'We could be here for a month, so having fun every day helps improve the chemistry a lot and play better on the pitch,' he added. City, which ended the English Premier League in third place this season, delivered outstanding performances since the start of the World Cup. They have beaten Morocco's Wydad 2-0, UAE's Al-Ain 6-0, and finally Juventus 5-2 at the group stage. World Cup race is open Arriving at City in January from Germany's Eintracht Frankfurt, Marmoush quickly proved his worth, scoring eight goals in 24 appearances so far. The Pharaohs player appeared twice at the World Cup, against Wydad and Juventus, to help secure the perfect record ahead of the knockout stage. According to Marmoush, his team respects all opponents, including round of 16 rivals Al-Hilal, stressing that they know the road well to be unbeatable. 'Anyone can win the tournament and that's why it's so nice to be here because you play teams from all over the world,' he explained. Al-Hilal reached the round of 16 after draws with Real Madrid and RB Salzburg and a victory over Mexican side Pachuca. 'Al-Hilal are known as one of the best teams in Saudi Arabia, and I think they've already proved in the tournament that they have a lot of quality,' the Egyptian player said. 'We respect all of the opponents; however, we know if we bring our qualities on the pitch, we will be very hard to beat,' he concluded. Find more details on group standings, match schedules, and competition statistics. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Short link:
The Irish Sun
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Top five genius Premier League 2024/25 tactics from Arsenal jigsaw to Tottenham's ‘wheel of chaos'
THE Premier League campaign is over - and it is time for Tactics Exposed's awards. Our tactical expert Dean Scoggins has unpacked the systems, shapes and styles that managers have deployed to varying levels of success this season. 29 Arsenal create a 'jigsaw' at corners by slotting into the gaps between defenders Credit: Reuters 29 Omar Marmoush made an immediate impact with his runs against Chelsea Credit: Getty Manchester United and Tottenham only narrowly avoid relegation. Crystal Palace, Newcastle and Spurs ended their long wait for trophies, Nottingham Forest will play in Europe for the first time in 30 years and Manchester City endured a nightmare year. And SunSport's record-breaking show has delivered top-quality analysis for its first full season. As the curtain falls on 2024-25, in our final READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS 5. Arsenal's sensational set pieces Assuming the timing and the trajectory of the delivery are sorted, then it is all about the runners, who form a love train at the back post. All but one Assuming the corner avoids the front man, the next person in the train is an attacking They jump in sequence which sounds simple but it's not, especially because you can't see the ball so they have to trust their team-mates - as soon as the man in front jumps, the next one jumps. Most read in Football CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Sometimes they identify a weak link and will put two men into the gap in front of him. 29 They jump in sequence and it proves a nightmare to defend against Credit: The Times 29 29 29 4. The double Enzo at Chelsea Enzo Maresca was forced into a switch against Tottenham in December where he dropped Enzo Fernandez into a deeper midfield role and abandoned the box shape. How Tottenham won the Europa League final v Man United 29 Enzo Fernandez was superb as Chelsea came from behind to beat Tottenham Credit: Getty 29 29 29 Fernandez partnered Moises Caicedo in a two and His movement off the ball and understanding of what is happening in the game is brilliant. A manager might see it - but you still need a player to carry it out on the pitch. He may have been more than £100million but his performances for 3. Omar Marmoush's arrival In January, City came from behind to beat Chelsea - thanks to new arrival Omar Marmoush. He said upon his arrival that he is "dangerous" and that is no exaggeration. 29 He proved too hot to handle for Reece James Credit: Sunday Times 29 29 29 29 By scaring James, the Chelsea man knew he couldn't let Marmoush get away and therefore stuck with him... and kept Marmoush onside. Marmoush offers something different from Savinho, Jeremy Doku and to an extent Jack Grealish who are fast but crucially want the ball to feet - To start with, City were not releasing the ball quickly enough to set him away - but they soon learnt. And it was good news for Erling Haaland to have a runner in the half-space - not out on the wing but also not as a second striker but in between. This was long passes, not long ball - there is a difference. 2. Liverpool's offside-busting move We talk a lot about how teams change formations between defence and attack. Like many teams, But the genius is that they These runners don't want the ball and the runs are wild - it could be Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai or more often than not Andy Robertson. It is a lung-busting sprint of about 40 yards from their own half in behind the opposition defence to force them back. 29 Andy Robertson's runs forward create chaos for the opposition defence's offside trap Credit: Alamy 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 It makes a usually straight flat back four all jagged and ensures the attacking players who want the ball are not offside. As well as the confusion, it also creates a gap between defence and midfield - which creates more space for the creative playmakers to operate. Against United, Robertson ended up in the left striker position, Harry Maguire dropped two steps and that was enough to keep Cody Gakpo onside. A VAR world is changing the game for Liverpool as these marginal ones get properly checked. 1. Tottenham's Wheel of Chaos Everyone thinks it's a wild way of playing because they concede silly goals from silly mistakes but Ange Postecoglou has a very rigid structure the players have to play within. I see the They don't cross over across the field much but will rotate within the threes. It is based on a ball out wide which then enables quick, first-time passes to progress up the wings. It leaves the goalkeeper, centre-backs, holding midfielder and striker as a central spine. The rigidity does, though, make 29 29 29 29
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Manchester City beat Bournemouth and Rodri returns in fitting De Bruyne farewell
Every Manchester City supporter wanted the opportunity to celebrate one final Kevin De Bruyne goal or assist at the Etihad Stadium but they were denied it by an almost unbelievable open goal miss. Instead they were treated to Omar Marmoush performing a tribute act to the Belgian, rifling in a goal-of-the-season contender against Bournemouth to move his team one step closer to Champions League qualification. Related: Pep Guardiola tells Manchester City: reduce squad size or 'I will quit' The party was well and truly in full swing but Marmoush increased the volume with a stunning 30-yard strike. Bernardo Silva and Nico González, De Bruyne's replacement after Mateo Kovacic was sent off, finished the job to move City up to third but the day was all about De Bruyne as he waved goodbye to the City home support, who will get a statue by which to remember him. He means a lot to fans and his impact on the club was shown by Pep Guardiola crying during the post‑match commemorations. De Bruyne started in his 421st appearance for the club with the captain's armband, and was accompanied by his three children when he walked out of the tunnel to be greeted by a 60ft tifo depicting his image. This was his day but there was business to be done. It never seemed likely that the post-match lap of honour from De Bruyne would be anticlimatic. After failing to score in their past two matches, City's duck was broken with a De Bruyne-esque rocket into the top corner. The firepower, however, was not provided by the Belgian but instead Marmoush, who used a pocket of space to his advantage, getting the ball out of his feet and smashing a shot that dipped and swerved, bringing gasps before igniting the atmosphere. The moment everyone had been waiting for came in the 25th minute when Marmoush burst down the left and slid a pass along the six‑yard line to De Bruyne to tap into an empty net. In his previous 141 Premier League home games for City, he would have completed the task with eyes closed. On this occasion, his focus went for a split second and he somehow pinged the ball against the bar. De Bruyne walked away head in hands, knowing he would never receive a better chance for the perfect finish. 'It was terrible, terrible,' De Bruyne said of the miss. 'There are no excuses. My son is going to be very hard on me today.' Silva made up for the rare slip of the foot from De Bruyne to double the lead and City were in control from then on. The only time it was questioned came when Kovacic was dismissed for pulling back Evanilson but the one-man deficit lasted minutes because Lewis Cook saw red for a reckless challenge on González, who went on to score a fine solo goal. There was a notable return for Rodri off the bench – his first appearance since sustaining ligament damage in September – on a night of positives for City, not tainted by Daniel Jebbison's late consolation. De Bruyne's child and wife joined him for a guard of honour from colleagues and chants of: 'There's only one Kevin De Bruyne.' He was asked to say a few words in the centre circle but struggled to hold back his emotion as Guardiola shed a tear watching on. A video of former teammates, family and friends was shown to the crowd to moisten eyes. Like on the pitch throughout his time at City, De Bruyne was able to find his composure when it mattered. 'It is time to say goodbye. We love you and I will see you soon,' he said. 'Manchester is home. Manchester is where these little kids were born. I came here with my wife, Michele, to stay here for a long time. I didn't expect to be here 10 years to do what we have as a club, supporters, my teammates. We won everything. We made the city, the club bigger.' The decade is coming to an end, De Bruyne leaves with six Premier League titles, one Champions League winner's medal and supporters with a lifetime of memories. 'It is a sad day, he will be missed, there is no doubt about that,' Guardiola said. The final act will come on Sunday at Fulham where he can give the next generation the best platform to repeat his feats. 'It's been unbelievable, to have the 10 years that I had. It's been an unbelievable ride,' De Bruyne said. 'I wanted to have fun and we had a lot of fun these 10 years.' No one inside the Etihad Stadium was arguing with him.
