Just over six months on from proving the hero in Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League final triumph, Brennan Johnson joined Ange Postecoglou in seeking out pastures new, having signed for Crystal Palace on a £35m deal earlier this month.
The Wales international had been last season’s leading scorer in all competitions, although after falling down the pecking order under new boss Thomas Frank, it was viewed as the opportune time for the Lilywhites to cash in.
What followed perhaps epitomised the north London side’s woes of late, with the man who had ousted Johnson from the right-wing berth, Mohammed Kudus, limping off just 19 minutes into Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
Frustratingly, scans subsequently showcased that the Ghanaian’s setback could be worse than expected, ensuring Frank and co may well be forced to dip into the market in the remaining weeks of the window.
Acquiring any player worth their salt mid-season is a tall order, although reports suggest that Spurs are stepping up their bid to land the perfect Kudus replacement.
Latest on Spurs move to sign Kudus replacement this month
He hasn’t been perfect, although the former West Ham United man has been a real bright spark amid another difficult season at N17, racking up nine goals and assists in his first 26 games for the club.
Whisper it quietly, but there’s even been shades of a prime Gareth Bale about his performances to date, cutting in off that right flank to devastating effect on occasion.
Now set to be sidelined until April, the loss of Kudus has left the north Londoners with a sizeable void to fill, with work underway to try and plug the gap this month.
According to WinWin, Spurs and top-flight rivals are now set to go head-to-head for the signing of Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush, with both clubs ready to advance their interest in the Egyptian star.
Indeed, as per the report, the two clubs are keen to intensify negotiations once the 26-year-old returns from AFCON duty, with a loan move believed to be the target.
The piece does add that Marmoush’s priority is to remain in Manchester, although the recent capture of Antoine Semenyo could alter his situation, with the forward’s agent set for key talks with Pep Guardiola’s side.
Kane-like Marmoush would be a dream for Spurs
As already stated, Kudus has shown flashes of being the new talismanic figure at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, although there is still work to be done to get anywhere close to the status and influence of club-record scorer, Harry Kane.
The Lilywhites notably waited a year to sign a genuine centre-forward replacement for the England skipper, although since his arrival back in 2024, Dominic Solanke has been hampered by injury, scoring just 16 goals in 48 games in all competitions.
Marmoush, only a year into life at the Etihad, could potentially be the long-awaited Kane successor that Spurs have been crying out for, having rivalled the 32-year-old as one of the Bundesliga’s bright lights in recent seasons.
Comfortable in a central role or on either flank, making him perfect to slot in in Kudus’ absence, Marmoush joined Guardiola’s side on a £59m deal in January 2025, following a prolific spell at Eintracht Frankfurt.
In just 67 games for the German side, he plundered 37 goals and a further 20 assists in all competitions, subsequently lauded by analyst and scout Ben Mattinson as a real “entertainer” during that fruitful Frankfurt spell.
As noted by FBref, the £295k-per-week speedster was deemed to be a statistically and stylistically similar player to Kane in both 2023/24 and 2024/25, among Bundesliga forwards.
In those last six months in Germany, Marmoush was particularly devastating, boasting a non-penalty goal per 90 average of 0.81, ahead of even Kane’s return of 0.64.
|
Marmoush vs Kane – 24/25 Bundesliga |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat (*per game) |
Marmoush** |
|
|
Games |
17 |
31 |
|
Goals |
15 |
26 |
|
Mins per goal |
97min |
92min |
|
Goal conversion |
19% |
23% |
|
Big chances missed |
9 |
19 |
|
Assists |
9 |
8 |
|
Big chances created |
11 |
11 |
|
Pass accuracy* |
80% |
81% |
|
Key passes* |
2.1 |
1.1 |
|
**left mid-season |
||
|
Stats via Sofascore |
||
A rival to the former Spurs man for clinicality, there is a real likeness between the pair in their finishing prowess, with the two men both so lethal on either foot, as well as from range.
Such traits have been noted by the aforementioned Mattinson, who described him as a “poacher in the box“, and an “instinctive finisher” who can “finish on either foot”.
Like Kane, there is a real fizz and power to his ball-striking, even with little backlift, a fact highlighted already in Manchester with his long-range stunner against Bournemouth at the end of last season.
Such moments of magic haven’t been seen enough at City, considering he has just nine goals in 40 games, although he has largely been on the periphery to date, starting just 24 times in total.
A change of scenery might be what is needed for this Kane-like talent to be revived, with Marmoush potentially a perfect fit in Tottenham’s time of need.
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