By Nick Ware

17th Dec, 2021 | 2:10pm

Fabrizio Romano: Vitaliy Mykolenko set to sign five-year Everton contract in £17.9m transfer

Fabrizio Romano claims Vitaliy Mykolenko will sign a five-year contract at Everton as he closes in on a major transfer from Dynamo Kyiv.

Mykolenko, 22, is undergoing an Everton medical as he prepares to swap his homeland of Ukraine for England.

The 21-cap left-back’s arrival could pave the way for Lucas Digne’s departure.

Writing via the Guardian website on Friday (11:37, 17 December), Romano said: “Everton are close to signing the Ukraine left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko from Dynamo Kyiv in a €21million (£17.9million) deal that could rise to €23million (£19.4million) with add-ons.

“The 22-year-old is due to complete a medical on Friday after agreeing terms on a five-year deal.”

Lengthy deal

Five years is a long contract but it’s about what one would expect to be offered in a major transfer.

It protects the club as it ties them down for half a decade, meaning if anyone tries to sign him they will have to pay a considerable sum, assuming he goes on to star.

It also offers security to the player, especially in the event that they suffer a serious injury.

Mykolenko doesn’t turn 23 until next year (29 May) and thus there is considerable room for him to develop as a player at Goodison Park.

For the amount of money being spent on him, Everton must be expecting him to establish himself as one of the best full-back’s in Europe.

While his chapter at the Blues begins, it could spell the end of one for Digne, who could now leave if a suitable offer arrives for the Frenchman.

In other Everton news, Jim White slammed Blues supporters live on-air after Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea.

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