Everton are on the verge of completing the capture of talented Dynamo Kyiv defender Vitaliy Mykolenko.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has offered an update on Everton’s pursuit of Vitaliy Mykolenko. The reliable journalist has confirmed that the Dynamo Kyiv defender is currently having his medical at Goodison Park and is soon expected to join the club on a permanent deal worth around €21-23 million.
Romano’s update confirms earlier reports that suggested Mykolenko was in England on Thursday to hold talks with the Everton board. It had further claimed that the Toffees are expected to pay the transfer fee through various instalments in light of the club’s current financial crisis.
Mykolenko’s imminent arrival at Goodison Park also fuels speculations regarding the long-term future of Lucas Digne. The talented left-back has recently had a spat with coach Rafael Benitez. As a result, the defender was not included in the squad in the recent matches against the likes of Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Chelsea, leading to rumours suggesting a January move away from Merseyside.
In an ironic turn of events, Chelsea are among the clubs involved in the race to sign Digne next month. One would expect the Frenchman’s sale could go a long way in helping Everton fund a move for Mykolenko, although the Toffees certainly have other defensive targets as well.
Nevertheless, the likely arrival of Vitaliy Mykolenko could serve as a sigh of relief for Benitez. While the Spaniard will certainly miss the marauding runs of Digne on the far side, the young Ukrainian offers more versatility, as he can operate as a centre-back, in addition to his preferred left-back position.
With 132 competitive appearances for Dynamo Kyiv and over 20 caps for the Ukrainian national team, the 22-year-old also offers considerable experience to the table. But it will be interesting to see if the youngster can settle in quickly to the fast-paced nature of English football.
As for Everton, Mykolenko is set to become the club’s first signing of the upcoming January transfer window. But the Merseyside giants still have work left to do. Benitez will be particularly keen on signing a new right-back who can compete with Seamus Coleman.
The former Liverpool manager has no shortage of options in the market either, with Everton already involved in the race to sign Max Aarons. However, they are set to face stiff competition from Tottenham Hotspur and AS Roma in the pursuit of the talented Norwich City starlet.