Everton defender Vitali Mykolenko is out of contract next summer.
Vitalii Mykolenko is approaching four years at Everton, having completed a £17m move from Dynamo Kyiv in January 2022.
✍️ | We have signed Ukraine defender Vitaliy Mykolenko from @DynamoKyiv for an undisclosed fee on a deal until summer 2026.
Welcome, Vitaliy! 🇺🇦💙
— Everton (@Everton) January 1, 2022
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Mykolenko has shown defensive frailties at times, but there has certainly been an improvement in his performances under David Moyes.
The 26-year-old is set to become a free agent in a matter of months, and now a transfer development has emerged which will force him to make a big decision this winter.
Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko in action.
Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images
Vitali Mykolenko wanted by clubs in Spain and Italy
According to Foot Mercato, clubs in Spain and Italy are weighing up a move for Mykolenko ahead of the January transfer window.
The Everton defender is valued by Moyes, who has no plans to sanction his sale, although the report states that this could change if a sizable offer arrives.
The club do hold an option to extend Mykolenko’s deal by a year, so if they decide to activate that, he will be under contract until 2027. That would give Moyes and his chiefs much more negotiating power to demand a higher fee.
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Anyhow, there’s been no suggestion that the Ukraine international wants to leave, so he may well sign a new long-term deal.
Napoli bid £26m for Vitali Mykolenko in the summer
It was reported last month that Napoli made a £26m bid for Mykolenko during the summer transfer window.
The Toffees swiftly rejected that as they clearly value him at a higher price, so perhaps it would take an offer of around £30m to get them thinking.
That seems unlikely in January, so at the moment, all roads lead to Mykolenko remaining on Merseyside and potentially extending his deal.
His understudy Adam Aznou is yet to make a senior appearance for Everton and struggled in an under-21 game against Bradford City earlier this month.