By George Overhill

29th Aug, 2022 | 6:40pm

Everton make £25.6million proposal to Shakhtar Donetsk for Mychajlo Mudryk - Fabrizio Romano

Everton made a verbal proposal to Shakhtar Donetsk to sign “top talent” Mychajlo Mudryk last week but were turned down, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The 21-year-old Ukrainian could be on the move for the close of the window according to the high profile journalist, with Arsenal also investigating a potential deal and interest elsewhere apparently high.

The young winger has only made 28 appearances for the senior side at the nomadic powerhouse, who have been forced to play elsewhere than their Donbass Arena home stadium for years amid Russian conflict in the area, but has scored twice and assisted 10 in that short time.

Writing on his personal Twitter account on Monday afternoon (29 August), Romano said: “Keep an eye on top talent Mychajlo Mudryk. Everton had €30m verbal proposal turned down by Shakhtar Donetsk last week.

“Arsenal have explored conditions of Mudryk deal few days ago — but just on player side. Many clubs want him, one to watch until the end.”

Late intrigue

As a blonde-haired, 21-year-old, highly-rated, young winger Mudryk matches the description of a certain other talent who Toffees fans are more than familiar with.

The club’s move to bring in the Ukrainian is surely linked to the ongoing attempts from Chelsea to sign homegrown Everton talent Anthony Gordon.

Frank Lampard has most recently suggested that he expects his goalscorer in the 1-1 draw at Brentford this weekend to remain at the club, but with his former side not looking like giving up the fight all the way until the transfer deadline it seems attempts have already been made to line up a like-for-like replacement.

In the circumstances, despite their very similar profiles, keeping Gordon looks like the better option from a performance point of view, as the young Englishman has played more games for the Toffees than his age-mate has for Shakhtar, while also having the benefit of already been well-accustomed to the Premier League.

On the other hand, if Chelsea are apparently willing to spend £60million, or possibly more, for him the prospect of banking a large proportion of that and bringing in another exciting player in the same mould is tempting.

If €30million was turned down Mudryk is hardly going to be cheap, but if he was available for around half of what Gordon might command it could end up a win-win if he can adapt to the top flight.

Everton don’t look like they are willing to let their former academy star go, but he has supposedly expressed an interest in leaving for Stamford Bridge, so if it becomes inevitable there is evidence here of a contingency plan.