With half a season played, red-hot Omar Marmoush has put Eintracht Frankfurt on course for a first top four finish in over 30 years and placed Europe's elite clubs on high alert.
The Egyptian's stunning 2024-25 -- he sits one behind top scorer Harry Kane in the Bundesliga with 15 goals, along with 10 assists, in 17 league games -- has led to speculation of a winter move to faltering English champions Manchester City.
In Europe's top five leagues, his 25 goal contributions rank second only behind countryman Mohamed Salah, who has 31, having played three games more.
Third-placed Frankfurt host Borussia Dortmund on Friday and sit eight points ahead of last season's Champions League finalists.
Frankfurt last finished in the top four in 1992-93 and risk being a victim of Marmoush's success should the 25-year-old move on.
While Marmoush has been in Germany since 2017, there is no question he has had a move to one of Europe's big guns on his mind.
MARMOUSH 'THRIVING'
Born in Cairo in 1999, Marmoush stood out early in the academy of club Wadi Degla.
At just 17, he was promoted to the first team and joined Wolfsburg's reserves a year later.
At Wolfsburg, Marmoush initially struggled for consistency and game time, resulting in loans to St Pauli and Stuttgart.
He also struggled to adapt to life in Germany.
Unable to speak German, Marmoush recalls standing near the counter at coffee shops and waiting until he saw the order he wanted, before pointing and telling the waiter he wanted the same.
Marmoush's agent told AFP these initial struggles laid a foundation for his achievements.
"Marmoush's command of German, French and English has greatly contributed to his success. He is thriving at Eintracht Frankfurt," said Ahmed Abdoun.
"The Bundesliga has always been a stepping stone to the big leagues like the Premier League or La Liga. If there are any offers, we will discuss them with the club and make the best decision."
NO 'NEW SALAH'
In 2021, the same year he made his Wolfsburg first team debut, Marmoush -- who was also eligible to play for Canada through his father -- received his first Egypt call up.
Making his international debut alongside Liverpool superstar Salah, Marmoush scored the winning goal against Libya in Afcon qualifying.
After moving to Frankfurt on a free transfer ahead of the 2023-24 season, Marmoush scored 12 goals in 29 league games.
He continued to improve this season. After scoring the equaliser in a 3-3 home draw with Bayern Munich in October, visiting coach Vincent Kompany praised the forward.
"Marmoush is a player who is only going to get better with time", saying the forward's skill was "not normal".
Marmoush's development drew inevitable comparisons with Salah, but the Liverpool star warned against comparisons.
"Omar has great potential and is an important player for his team and the national team currently, but I hope we stay away from the idea of comparisons, because it will put him under pressure," Salah said in November.
"Do not compare him to me, do not say the 'new Mohamed Salah', let him live his career. Comparing a player at the beginning of his career with another who has achieved a lot over many years does not help him."
While Marmoush may wish to blaze his own trail, a move to Manchester City would make comparisons with Egypt's best-known sporting export unavoidable.
FIXTURES
Friday
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund
Saturday
Stuttgart v Freiburg
Bayern Munich v Wolfsburg
Heidenheim v St Pauli
Bochum v RB Leipzig
Holstein Kiel v Hoffenheim
Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia Moenchengladbach
Sunday
Union Berlin v Mainz
Werder Bremen v Augsburg