Eintracht Frankfurt manager Dino Toppmoller has cast doubt on Omar Marmoush's £67million move to Manchester City.
The Premier League champions are expected to complete the signing of the Egypt international, who is second only to Harry Kane in the Bundesliga scoring charts with 14 goals in 16 games.
Marmoush has already agreed personal terms and City are busy negotiating the structure of the fee before signing the prolific striker.
But reports from Germany have cast some doubt on this move, first with news from Sky Germany that the 25-year-old is expected to be in his side's starting line-up for their clash against SC Freiburg on Tuesday.
This was followed by comments from Frankfurt boss Toppmoller, who said: “It's not out of the question that he stays here.”
City had originally hoped to land Marmoush for around £40m, but Frankfurt have insisted they want a premium as it is the January window and they need to find a replacement.
The club were looking for a striker to lighten the load on Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola has admitted they made a mistake by not replacing Julian Alvarez, who joined Atletico Madrid this summer.
Liverpool and Arsenal were also following Marmoush but did not pursue their interest once they discovered Frankfurt's asking price.
City strengthens the squad to give Guardiola new impetus for the second half of the season. Central defender Abdukodir Khusanov is expected to join from Lens early next week after City agreed to pay £33.5 million for the Uzbek international.
The 20-year-old signs a four-and-a-half-year contract with an option for a further year. City also remain in negotiations for 18-year-old Brazilian centre-back Vitor Reis from Palmeiras, but the plan is for him to join them after the Club World Cup in July.
Palmeiras are pushing for a £37 million deal, which would represent a Brazilian record fee for a defender.
City are not done there yet and remain alert to adding another midfielder this month.
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