Eintracht Frankfurt head coach Dino Toppmoller has delivered an update on the availability of Manchester City-linked Omar Marmoush ahead of Tuesday's Bundesliga clash with Freiburg.
The 25-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium in the January transfer window and is said to have been identified as a top target by Pep Guardiola's side.
Amidst speculation surrounding his future, Marmoush started and scored the only goal in Frankfurt's narrow 1-0 win over St Pauli in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon - the club's first game since the resumption of German football following a winter break.
After the match, Frankfurt chief Markus Krosche refused to rule out that Marmoush may have played his last game for the club.
"I can't answer that 100%. I say that quite honestly," Krosche told Sky Sports Deutschland. "The goal, as I have always said, is that we want to keep this team together. So far, I don't see anything out of the ordinary."
Krosche confirmed last weekend that Frankfurt have been in "contact" with one club - believed to be Man City - over a potential move for Marmoush and that club have 'expressed their interest'.
© Imago
Man City-linked Marmoush set to start for Frankfurt against Freiburg
However, Frankfurt boss Toppmoller has since confirmed that Marmoush is set to start in Tuesday's home encounter with Freiburg at Deutsche Bank Park.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Monday, Toppmoller said: "Omar is making a good impression again today, as are all the boys. We are pleased that he will be in the starting eleven again tomorrow."
He added: "Personnel-wise, things are looking good...The boys have performed well and the win is good. We want to continue the good start at home. That would be the same as the best first half of the season in history, which of course is even more motivating."
Marmoush's outing on Tuesday could well be his last for Frankfurt, though, as journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that Man City are expected to complete a deal to sign the Egypt international this week.
Romano adds that the Citizens will submit their official bid for Marmoush this week, which will will included add-ons as part of the structure, and formal talks are set to follow before the deal is sealed - the forward is believed to be valued by Frankfurt at around €80m (£67m).
Marmoush, who has already agreed personal terms with Man City, has been a standout performer in the Bundesliga this season, scoring 14 goals and registering seven assists in 15 games for a Frankfurt side who sit third in the table.
Oliver Thomas
