​If Cologne’s pursuit of West Ham’s Edson Álvarez collapses, the Billy Goats are weighing alternatives. Among the candidates is former Cologne midfielder Ellyes Skhiri, who currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt with one year still left on his contract. A Bild report claims Frankfurt have put Skhiri on the transfer list for about €2 million, a price tag Cologne would have no trouble meeting. Unlike Álvarez, Skhiri’s salary presents no barrier for René Wagner’s side. Furthermore, talks are already underway, and if the bid for Álvarez falls through, Cologne’s efforts to sign Skhiri are likely to intensify.
Cologne has had a notably busy summer as they rebuild the squad following Lukas Kwasniok’s departure in March 2026. The club has already secured the services of Nürnberg’s Luka Lochoshvili and has permanently signed Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Tom Krauß. In addition, they are close to completing deals for Gideon Mensah and Paul Okon-Engstler. The winter and summer transfer windows have seen Cologne actively reshaping their roster, aiming to strengthen several positions and close gaps that emerged after the coaching change and departures.
Skhiri’s potential availability adds another dimension to Cologne’s transfer strategy. If Frankfurt are prepared to part with him for a relatively modest fee, the midfielder could fit the team’s midfield engine, providing experience, versatility, and a familiar profile for fans who remember his previous stint at the club. The dynamics of the market suggest that Cologne’s management is willing to explore multiple pathways to bolster the squad ahead of the new season, with Skhiri representing a low-risk, potentially high-reward option should Álvarez prove unattainable.
Overall, Cologne’s transfer activity points to a calculated plan to stabilize the midfield and defensive transitions while continuing to negotiate for other targeted players. The club’s strategy appears to balance financial prudence with the ambition to compete more effectively, leveraging identified opportunities like Skhiri’s availability if needed, and keeping momentum on their broader set of transfer goals as they finalize deals with Mensah and Okon-Engstler, as well as the pending arrangements for additional signings.