Ellyes Skhiri has rejected a contract extension with 1. FC Köln. But the search for a new employer is difficult. Will there now be a spectacular turnaround?
In the past season, Ellyes Skhiri was an absolute top performer at 1. FC Köln. Apart from two absentees (broken cheekbone and suspension), the defensive midfielder played the full distance in all of the Domstadtklub’s competitive games.
Effzeh could not convince Skhiri to stay in Cologne. In early June, the Bundesliga side announced that the Tunisian would leave the club on a free transfer once his contract expired.
But according to “kicker” there could be a turnaround. According to the report, there has been no serious interest in Skhiri so far. Although there have been loose talks with other clubs, the international has probably not received any concrete offers.
A new contract with 1. FC Köln is therefore not impossible. In any case, Effzeh coach Steffen Baumgart would welcome Skhiris staying.
“We have always said that the door for Ellyes remains open. I would take him immediately,” the “kicker” quoted the 51-year-old as saying. No one in Cologne took offense at Skhiri not wanting to extend his contract. “He wants to take the next step. We accepted that from the start,” said Baumgart.
Most recently, however, the Italian portal “tuttomercatoweb.com” reported that Skhiri is in the sights of AC Milan. As a result, the 28-year-old has a three-year contract with the Champions League semi-finalists from last season, with the option of another season. It is said that he can collect around two million euros a year.
Most recently, Crystal Palace from the Premier League as well as Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt were said to be interested.