1. FC Cologne: Africa Cup decides Ellyes Skhiris Cologne future – Bundesliga
The big football stage for Cologne’s most valuable players!
Ellyes Skhiri (26) reach for the title with Tunisia at the Africa Cup (January 9th to February 6th) in Cameroon. His homeland is one of the favorites, and he himself is one of the biggest stars. He now wants to confirm that and, after missing the summer switch, recommend himself for top European teams in this way.
Skhiri’s future in Cologne will be decided at the Africa Cup!
If he plays well, that’s also good for Cologne. His market value (currently 13 million euros) would continue to rise – and the top clubs would again notice him.
According to BILD information, the internal Cologne plan is still that Skhiri should change for a top sum – in the summer! Because Cologne lacks coal.
His contract runs until 2023. A lightning change in winter is rather unlikely. That means: After the season there are only two options – extend or sell. And only a transfer really makes sense …
► Ultimately, only the Tunisian would let the empty FC cash register ring. The club has over 70 million euros in corona losses. In addition, ghost games threaten again in Müngersdorf in the next few weeks – Cologne has to generate money in the summer.
► In sporting terms, a Skhiri exit after the season would hit FC, but not throw them back miles. Because with Salih Özcan (23) and Dejan Ljubicic (24), coach Steffen Baumgart (49) has two strong running and tackling players who have recently proven that they can replace Skihri and grow even further into the role in the second half of the season.
► And then there is Skhiri’s wish to change. The Tunisian wanted to leave last summer to play internationally. His advisor Fali Ramadani is negotiating with AC Milan, among others (BILD reported). In the end, there was also no transfer because in Corona times no club was ready to meet the FC requirements (around 15 million euros).
That should look different after a successful Africa Cup in 2022. Skhiri will at least use the stage and prove that he can also help a big club in the future …