While the future of Iliman Ndiaye and rumours of a move by Everton for Aaron Wan-Bissaka have dominated transfer-related online chat in recent days, the first concrete piece of news in the realm of recruitment and squad retention came this week with confirmation that Vitalii Mykolenko has signed a new three-year contact with the club.
The four-year deal that the 27-year-old signed in January 2021 was due to expire this summer and while the Blues had an option to trigger an automatic 12-month extension, they have opted to hand him fresh terms instead.
The decision is being held up by some as symbolic of the ownership’s ambition — or lack thereof. It’s a prudent measure, though, that heads off a potential situation next year where the Ukrainian walks away as a free agent which would deprive the club of any kind of transfer fee for a regular international player. It also provides a measure of security right now in a part of the team where only the unfenced Adam Aznou provides natural back-up.
Aznou’s treatment by David Moyes and the fact that the Moroccan international is being primed for a loan move elsewhere next season has been a bone among supporters but the situation does leave Everton short-handed at left-back.
Indeed, when Mykolenko was unable to kick off 2025/26 at Leeds because of injury, James Garner was pressed into action as an emergency full-back in that position while Moyes also saw fit at one stage to deploy Jarrad Branthwaite there as well in the away fixture at Brighton in late January.
The hope, of course, is that left-back is as high on the priority list as right-back this summer and not just for the lack of options there. While offering a diligent and dependable defensive presence, Mykolenko’s attacking metrics have been always been his weak point and, in an era where attacking full-backs are a vital part of the game, it’s often hindered the Toffees going forward under the last three managers.
However, Everton’s failure to qualify for Europe and the fact they slipped out of the top half to finish 13th last month will almost certainly restrict the budget for new players during the close season and could force the transfer committee to to be selective.
With Seamus Coleman moving on, Nathan Patterson also a likely departure this summer and Jake O’Brien’s form in the run-in a painful demonstration of how ill-suited is to the role, right-back is regularly held up as a priority. Additionally, the club are known to be seeking a goal-scoring winger, reinforcements in midfield and could well make a move to address the centre-forward position if the right opportunity presents itself.
If the committee does elect to take up the option of signing Tyrique George, he is likely to cost around £20m, a similar figure to that already due to Freiburg for the acquisition on a permanent basis of Merlin Röhl. Add in a potential re-upping of Jack Grealish’s loan from Manchester City at another reported £12.5m and Everton will have committed to an outlay of around £50m before they’ve even addressed right-back where, in truth, they probably need to sign two players, not just one.
It is unquestionably true that if Everton are to kick on and realise the dream of not only qualifying for Europe but being successful in Continental competition, they will need to sign an upgrade on Mykolenko. If all goes to plan he could either become a solid deputy to a new left-back signing or, as a contracted player, be sold for cash in a year's time.
While his attitude, commitment and professionalism can’t be faulted and he more than played his role in keeping the Toffees in the Premier League during its darkest days — who could forget that sublime volley at Leicester?! — the limitations in his game mean that he can’t be viewed as the long-term answer on the left side of defence.
The nagging concern is that despite having managed one of the finest left-backs of the Premier League era in Leighton Baines, Moyes may not see it that way — or, at the very least, might not see any urgency in signing an alternative.
In that case, those fans who have greeted yesterday’s news with a degree of scepticism and frustration may have to resign themselves to the fact that “Myko” will be in the line-up when 2026/27 kicks off in August.
The question is, will a solution have been found on the other side of defence and will that acquisition sufficiently compensate where a 6’ 6” clearlu centre-half wasn’t able to during the season just gone?
Either no responses have been submitted so far to this article or previous submissions are being assessed for inclusion.
Only registered users of Evertonia can participate in discussions.
Or [Join](/sign-up/register.php) as Evertonia Member — it takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your thoughts on artices across the site.