Everton have kicked off their January transfer window a little sooner than expected as Dynamo Kyiv full back Vitaliy Mykolenko is soon expected to be a Everton player. The Ukrainian was linked with the Toffees recently and it appears the links were legitimate and not just paper talk.
Lucas Digne seems to have had a fallout with Rafa Benitez as the Frenchman was left out of the squad for the Crystal Palace and Arsenal game. The Spanish manager decided to deploy Ben Godfrey in the left back role.
The former PSG man missed the trip to Chelsea with illness and now the chances of him staying at Goodison appear to be getting dimmer with each day. Mykolenko is inching closer to signing for Everton. The 22 year old was also said to be a target for AS Roma. Jose Mourinho’s side were even rumoured to have launched a bid of £15 million but it appears that the Toffees have won the race.
Dynamo Kyiv manager Mircea Lucescu first broke the news stating that Mykolenko is headed to Everton and he is the first big transfer out of Kyiv after Andriy Yarmolenko who joined Borussia Dortmund in 2017 from Kyiv and then eventually got into the Premier League with West Ham United.
Vitaliy Mykolenko undergoing Everton medical
Now, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has provided the most recent update regarding Mykolenko. As per the Italian, Mykolenko is undergoing his medical for Everton and will join on a permanent deal. Personal terms have already been agreed and the deal has been closed in the region of €21-€23 million.
Mykolenko has plied his trade with Kyiv since 2017, before which he was in the youth ranks of the Ukrainian club. Since 2017, the 22 year old has made 132 appearances, scoring seven goals and providing 20 assists.
With the youngster now arriving at Finch Farm, serious doubts can be raised over the future of Digne who could be sold in the January transfer window. Juventus and Chelsea have been linked to the 28 year old who signed a new deal earlier this year.
Digne has been one of the finest full backs in the Premier League since he arrived in England in 2018 but with the trust eroding between Benitez and the player, he could be shown the exit door, especially, when the Toffees are prepared for life after the France international.
Will Vitaliy Mykolenko seamlessly fit into the side?