He is expected to sign a two-year deal today and confirm his return to the club after three years away.
Skoko's switch to Latics from Turkish side Genclerbirligi just needs Home Office approval now to go through.
Deadlock
The Australia midfielder arrived in Wigan on Monday – after a grilling at immigration – and has since undergone a medical and agreed terms.
He will leave the country tomorrow while Latics apply for a work permit, hopefully granted by next week.
The future of striker Ellington should become clearer later today once his representatives have met with club officials.
It's hoped the deadlock over a new contract can finally be broken after a summer of negotiations.
But West Brom are waiting in the wings, with reports in the Midlands suggesting they have bid £3m which activates a clause in the Duke's present deal allowing them to speak with him.
With the start of the season so close and the transfer window shutting at the end of the month until January, Latics are very keen to get the issue sorted.
Manager Paul Jewell said: "We're meeting Nathan's agent today and hopefully we can get things sorted out.
"I think the lad wants to stay here and I'm confident we're not far off."
Jewell is pleased to be on the verge of completing deals for de Zeeuw and Skoko, taking the number of new arrivals this summer to eight.
De Zeeuw needs little introduction in these parts, but while Socceroo Skoko is unknown in English football, Jewell thinks he has a good player on his hands.
He said: "We have signed Josip and all he needs now is a work permit.
"We had to get him out of immigration when he arrived in the country on Monday, but everything went well after that.
"He's played for Hajduk Split in Croatia, Genk in Belgium, and has 41 caps for Australia.
"I saw him play for Australia in friendlies against Norway and New Zealand at Craven Cottage, and we've seen him a bit in Turkey too.
"Hopefully he will be a decent signing for us and will add competition to what is already a good midfield.
"As for Arry, we spoke to him yesterday about coming here.
"I've gone on record to say he's the best professional I have ever worked with and it'll be nice to get that one done."
On the injury front, Latics have been hit by an eve of the season blow regarding John Filan.
The goalkeeper underwent his second hernia operation of the summer yesterday and will miss the opening weeks of the Premiership campaign.
Filan first went under the knife at the end of May, but now needs the other side doing.
During pre-season training, he was also in the wars with a knee injury, and his absence against Chelsea on Sunday will end a run of first team appearances stretching back to April last year.
Meanwhile, Lee McCulloch has been named in the Scotland squad for their friendly in Austria next Wednesday.
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