Everton are continuing their post-season housekeeping by tying Vitaly Mykolenko down to a new three-year contract.
The Ukraine full-back’s current deal was due to expire this summer, so Everton have at the very least prevented a player who cost around £18m in January 2022 from leaving for nothing. The length of the deal has raised a few eyebrows though.
The 27-year-old has made 157 appearances since his move from Dynamo Kiev.
He said: “I remember the first message I received from Seamus [Coleman] when
I signed in 2022. I remember reading it and thanking him for welcoming me. He gave me that confidence immediately that I’m in a proper family here.
“In the first few years of my time here we were struggling, but our team, as a family – every person in the building gave everything to get through it. What we have now is stronger and we are getting better every season.
“For me, it’s most important to feel confident and feel comfortable in the environment and I have that here, so I’m really happy.”
The move has not generated too much excitement among the fanbase given Mykolenko’s limitations, though you can see the logic given he is the only senior left-back at present (if you exclude Adam Aznou, who seemingly doesn’t exist in David Moyes’ world).
He is a solid defender but very much in the traditional mould, lacking the attacking zest and zeal a modern full-back requires. With Jake O’Brien pushed out of position on the right once again last season, the attacking weakness of the full-backs upset the whole balance of the side.
The entire defence is also on the naughty step after a slew of errors contirnuted to Everton’s collapse in form at the end of the summer.
A right-back is a must this summer – though we have been saying that for more than five years, but a left-back should be high on the shopping list as well. That would allow Mykolenko to fulfil the role of able deputy.
His professionalism has never been in doubt and has proven to be effective in games where the side has had to do a lot of defending. But the Toffees could and should be looking for more.
