---
title: "West Ham eyeing move for Cologne midfielder Ellyes Skhiri"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/06/16/west-ham-eyeing-move-for-cologne-midfielder-ellyes-skhiri/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-06-16T16:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-06-16T16:00:00Z"
---

# West Ham eyeing move for Cologne midfielder Ellyes Skhiri

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/06/16/west-ham-in-the-front-row-for-aaron-ramsey-transfer/) are reportedly targetting a move for Cologne midfielder [Ellyes Skhiri](https://readinternationalfootball.com/2018/06/07/tunisias-23-man-world-cup-squad-confirmed/) this summer.

Despite the priority at the London Stadium remaining a striker arrival, signing an [additional midfield option](https://www.whufc.com/teams/first-team/squad) to supplement Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and veteran captain Mark Noble also seems to be high on the agenda.

Irons boss David Moyes could turn to the Tunisian 26-year-old as a potential option, albeit with [fierce competition](https://bulinews.com/news/8768/report-k%C3%B6ln-reject-lyon-offer-for-ellyes-skhiri) from Lyon, Chelsea, Sevilla, Atalanta and Fiorentina.

That’s according to a report from the [Daily Express](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football), as cited by [Walid Elmechri](https://twitter.com/Walid_Elmechri/status/1405147287110684675)on Twitter.

> Twitter: Ellyes Skhiri est dans le viseur de West Ham\
> \#Mercato
>
> https://t.co/em9Q5Ygpru (@Walid\_Elmechri)

The report claims Cologne are hoping to receive bids of around £20million for the [35-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ellyes-skhiri/nationalmannschaft/spieler/290587/verein_id/3670) ace.

Skhiri played a pivotal role in keeping the west German side in the Bundesliga in 2020/21 – scoring [five goals and contributing three assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ellyes-skhiri/leistungsdaten/spieler/290587) in 37 league outings.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Capable of playing in a number of positions, the [£9million valued](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ellyes-skhiri/marktwertverlauf/spieler/290587) Tunisian is [predominantly](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ellyes-skhiri/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/290587) a defensive midfielder.

After Rice and Soucek proved their [quality and longevity](https://talksport.com/football/846100/west-ham-declan-rice-tomas-soucek-worth-lorry-limbs/) last term, Moyes may be reticent to spend big on a player to act as a backup option.

Albeit wholly necessary to strengthen squad options, especially with the additional [demands of Europa League](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/may/23-may/west-ham-united-qualify-uefa-europa-league-final-day-win-over#:~:text=Match%20Report-,West%20Ham%20United%20qualify%20for%20UEFA%20Europa,final%2Dday%20win%20over%20Southampton&text=A%20first%2Dhalf%20brace%20from,for%20the%20UEFA%20Europa%20League.) football, shelling out £20million for a midfield understudy seems unlikely.