Frankfurt release Köln-linked Skhiri for transfer talks as Schalke-linked Ebimbe joins training camp | OneFootball

Eintracht Frankfurt omitted four first-team players from their training camp in Grassau. The club announced that Ellyes Skhiri has been released for transfer talks with another club. Although they didn’t specify the name of the club, the central midfielder has been heavily linked with a return to Köln in recent weeks.

The 31-year-old had a dismal World Cup campaign with Tunisia after getting the captain’s armband ahead of the tournament. Skhiri played four seasons at the heart of Köln's midfield before joining Eintracht Frankfurt as a free agent in 2023. His current contract at Frankfurt will also expire at the end of the upcoming season.

Frankfurt also left strikers Michy Batshuayi, Noel Futkeu and Jessic Ngankam from their squad joining pre-season training. Batshuayi has only played 10 games in all competitions during the 2025/26 season. Frankfurt exercised their option to re-sign the 2. Bundesliga top-scorer Futkeu from Greuther Fürth, while the ex-Hertha striker Ngankam spent the second half of last season at Wolfsberger AC in Austria.

Meanwhile, Junior Dina Ebimbe and Niels Nkounkou are part of the team traveling to Bavaria. The former was close to joining Schalke 04, but Adi Hütter is reportedly in favor of keeping him at the club. Nonetheless, the newly-promoted side still fancy their chances of completing the transfer as Frankfurt want him to extend his contract.