Premier League outfit West Ham United are looking at Ellyes Skhiri as Cologne look to raise about £20 million for the Bundesliga powerhouse, as reported by the Express.
There seems to be a trend developing here.
David Moyes’ Hammers have been linked with a number of central midfielders in recent weeks.
And, if you look a little closer, you’ll find the majority appear to be 6ft-something enforcers in the Tomas Soucek mould.
Coincidence? Or merely an attempt to replicate one of the most inspired signings in recent Premier League history?
Yangel Herrera, Manchester City’s perennial loanee, is famed for his salmon-esque leap inside the penalty area.
Morten Thorsby, meanwhile, has scored 12 of his last 20 goals with his head.
West Ham linked with Skhiri
Reports linking Tunisia international Skhiri with a move to the London Stadium, then, should come as little surprise.
A rangy, 6ft 1in midfield general, the France-born 26-year-old is another in the Soucek mould.
Like West Ham’s Czech talisman, he’s a major threat at set-pieces, producing six goals and three assists for a Cologne side that narrowly avoided relegation from Germany’s top flight last season.
Skhiri even scored twice as the Billy Goats stunned Borussia Dortmund on their hallowed Signal Iduna Park soil in November.
Other clubs interested in signing Skhiri
The former Montpellier man has also been linked with the likes of Chelsea, Sevilla, Atalanta and Fiorentina, while Lyon are reported to have had a £7 million bid rejected.
Cologne, meanwhile, hope to bring in closer to £20 million for one of their star players, with two years remaining on Skhiri’s contract.
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